DESPERATE fishermen are calling on the government to build a new slipway at the Muharraq Jetty – more than a month after being forced to stop operations due to a lack of slipway services.
The services were being provided by a private company but was recently ordered to leave the site near the King Hamad Bridge to make way for a development project.
A slipway, also known as boat ramp or launch or boat deployer, is a ramp on the shore by which ships or boats can be moved to and from the water. They are used for building and repairing ships and boats, and for launching and retrieving small boats on trailers towed by cars.
The Muharraq Municipal Council, in its meeting yesterday at the Muharraq Municipality headquarters in Busaiteen, unanimously approved an urgent proposal, submitted by chairman and area councillor Abdulaziz Al Naar, for a slipway at the Muharraq Jetty.
“The jetty is the biggest in Bahrain with more than 100 fishermen using it,” said Mr Al Naar.
“Previously, a private company at a nearby site offered the slipway services for daily fees, but more than a month ago it was ordered to close down to pave way for a new development project,” he added.
“This move has badly affected fishermen who have either stopped their operations or incurred heavy costs for transporting their large boats to other parts of the country and back to Muharraq.
“I believe that the Muharraq Jetty could provide the service on a temporary basis for now and possibly permanently if proper arrangements are made, but leaving the fishermen without a slipway is unacceptable and harming the fishing sector.”
The ordeal of the fishermen was highlighted in a letter to the council by Professional Fishermen’s Society president Abdulamir Al Moghani.
“The lack of slipway services has negatively affected Muharraq fishermen’s operations,” said Mr Al Moghani.
“This has also limited fishing, causing scarcity of certain types of fish in the market and a huge spike in prices.
“We want to protect the sector, industry and profession and the only available option is to build a slipway at the jetty.”
Fisherman Hassan Al Mehri said arranging to transport large boats (Banooshes) for slipway services and back were highly costly.
“We are speaking of Banooshes of a length between 60 and 80 feet and unlike speedboats that could be towed this involves a more complicated and expensive process,” he said.
“A number of us, including myself, have stopped fishing and are without a source of income.”
The council’s services and public utilities committee chairman and Arad councillor Ahmed Al Meghawi said the government should act fast to protect Bahrain’s oldest profession from being damaged.
“The private company offering the slipway services shouldn’t have been ordered off; we understand that the country is progressing, but it shouldn’t come at the cost of the oldest profession in the country and fishermen’s livelihood.”
Muharraq has three other smaller jetties in Hidd, Galali and Raya.
The proposal has now been referred to a joint review of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Minister Wael Al Mubarak and Works Minister Ibrahim Al Hawaj.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))