Strong calls have been made for enhanced surveillance and stricter enforcement of laws to protect endangered marine species in Bahrain’s territorial waters, following the circulation of a viral video showing a group of youths hauling a shark from the sea.
Leading the charge is Ahmed Al Salloom, chairman of Parliament’s financial and economic affairs committee and president of the Strategic Thinking Bloc, who stressed the urgent need for immediate action.
“This behaviour is unacceptable and goes against our national, environmental and ethical responsibilities,” Mr Al Salloom said.
“It is illegal to catch endangered species such as turtles, dugongs, dolphins and several species of sharks, including hammerheads.”
The video, which sparked widespread outrage online, highlighted the disturbing practice of targeting large marine species for entertainment or gain, despite Bahrain’s strict environmental laws governing marine life conservation.
Mr Al Salloom, who is also Better Life Society president, warned that those who encounter endangered marine species should immediately release them back into the sea unharmed, in accordance with Bahraini and international environmental protection laws.
“There is absolutely no justification for catching or harming these creatures,” he said. “Not only is it illegal, but it also poses a direct threat to the delicate balance of our marine ecosystem. These species play vital roles in the marine food chain and biodiversity, and losing them would cause immeasurable damage to Bahrain’s environmental heritage.”
“We are co-ordinating with the relevant authorities headed by the Oil and Environment Ministry to strengthen oversight, increase penalties for offenders and launch awareness campaigns to educate the public, especially young people, on the importance of marine conservation,” Mr Al Salloom added.
He further called on all fishermen, boating enthusiasts and coastal visitors to act responsibly.
“I urge anyone who finds these creatures accidentally caught in fishing nets or lines to release them immediately,” he said. “If they fail to do so, they will be held accountable under the law.
“The protection of marine life is not just the responsibility of the authorities – it’s a shared duty between the government, the private sector, fishermen, boaters, divers and every single member of society.”
Echoing Mr Al Salloom’s concerns, Capital Trustees Board chairman Saleh Tarradah expressed dismay over recurring reports of cruelty and abuse inflicted on marine creatures by irresponsible fishermen and leisure-seekers.
“It is shameful that some individuals, when they accidentally catch turtles, dolphins, or other endangered species, choose to break their limbs just to get them out of their nets,” Mr Tarradah said.
“Even worse, some deliberately spike these creatures to death or torment them for fun, while others see them as opportunities for profit, catching them to sell as stuffed specimens or souvenirs.”
Mr Tarradah described these actions as not only inhumane, but also as violations of religious, ethical and environmental principles.
“We must cultivate a culture of compassion, responsibility and respect for nature,” he said.
“Marine life belongs to all of us – it is not a trophy to be abused or commercialised.
“Bahrain has made significant progress in environmental protection in recent years, but this incident has exposed a serious need for further vigilance, stricter application of the law and cultural change,” added Mr Tarradah.
Both Mr Al Salloom and Mr Tarradah stressed that protecting Bahrain’s marine environment requires comprehensive measures, including:
l Enhanced monitoring by the Coastguard and environmental authorities.
l Tougher penalties for individuals caught violating marine protection laws.
l Educational programmes in schools, universities, and coastal communities.
l Collaborative campaigns with fishermen and boating associations to build community-driven protection efforts.
l Strict regulation of recreational fishing activities, including the requirement of permits and the introduction of marine life protection awareness as part of the permit process.
As outrage over the video continues, both community leaders expressed hope that the incident would serve as a turning point in public awareness and lead to sustained, community-backed efforts to safeguard Bahrain’s rich marine environment for future generations.
But over the past few decades the overwhelming cause of large shark declines globally, particularly in the open ocean far from shore, has been the expansion of industrial-scale commercial fisheries targeting sharks for their fins and meat, the conversation website reported last week.
It was estimated in 2024 that fishing vessels are killing around 100 million sharks a year – a number that rose during the last decade. Nearly a third of shark species are now threatened with extinction.
This overfishing is impacting not only shark populations but also the health and balance of marine ecosystems.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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