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MPs unanimously voted to declare two areas rich in marine biodiversity as protected natural reserves by law, despite government warning that it would mean fishing gets banned.
The legislation to declare Fasht Al Jarem and Fasht Al Adhem as protected natural reserves has now been referred to the Shura Council.
The government was forced to draft the legislation into a proper law. However, it pointed out that the legislation doesn’t include proper studies showcasing the importance of the two sites.
Supreme Council for the Environment marine resources director-general Mohammed Al Asam said MPs were wrong in fully protecting both fashts.
“What will happen to fishermen as both sites are two of the main sources of fishing in the country,” he said.
“We already have rules in place to prevent destruction of fashts, besides excessive fishing, so there is no need for this legislation.
“Also, we have issued a tender for 10,000 coral reefs to be set in both areas as we increase breeding spaces.”
Parliament’s financial and economic affairs committee chairwoman MP Zainab Abdulamir alleged that the National Master Plan was ‘the biggest crime in Bahrain’s history’ as she waived the map detailing future reclamation.
Parliament and Shura Council Affairs Minister Ghanim Al Buainain asserted that the government was concerned about protecting the environment and marine resources while ensuring the progress and development of the country.
He was cut short by MP Dr Hisham Al Asheeri, who said the government had six classifications for protection and the fashts could come under one of the categories that allowed fishing as well.
In 2006, His Majesty King Hamad issued the Tubli Bay Protection Law which is the only specific legislation related to natural habitats.
However, the new plan may face hurdles as both fashts are part of five new off-shore cities that will be built to increase urban areas in Bahrain by more than 60 per cent. The ambitious move was announced in 2021. The other three areas are Suhaila Island, Bahrain Bay and Hawar Islands.
The legislation would see the government determining the protected sites within three months and those found breaching or destructing them would be fined between BD5,000 and BD100,000, or jailed between six months to a year, or both.
All equipment and machines used in the process of damaging the fashts would also be seized and those found guilty ordered to restore it back to its original state.
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