Legislators are pushing for a targeted exemption that would allow trawling exclusively in marine zones devoid of coral reefs.
The proposal aims to preserve the economic activity associated with shrimping and strengthen fishermen’s livelihoods, while ensuring that environmentally sensitive habitats remain protected.
The initiative, spearheaded by MP Mohammed Al Olaiwi and backed by four other legislators, seeks a controlled easing of the current blanket ban on trawling – one of the most contentious fishing practices due to its potential impact on seabed habitats.
“Trawling has long been a concern due to the damage it can cause to coral reefs and marine biodiversity,” Mr Al Olaiwi said.
“However, the practice need not be completely shut down, it can still be conducted safely – away from vulnerable habitats.
“This proposal is about protecting Bahrain’s marine wealth for future generations, while also recognising the economic realities faced by our fishermen.”
Shrimp trawling has historically been the backbone of Bahrain’s traditional shrimp season, forming the core method through which local fishermen are able to harvest shrimp in commercially viable quantities.
Unlike line fishing, traps, or gillnets, trawling is specifically designed for shrimp, which live and move along the seabed.
For decades, this method enabled Bahraini fishermen to sustain their livelihoods during the limited shrimping window, supplying the local market with one of the kingdom’s most prized seafood products while supporting dozens of small boats and crews whose income depends almost entirely on this seasonal activity.
Since the enforcement of the complete ban on shrimp trawling in 2018, fishermen say their ability to catch shrimp in meaningful volumes has sharply declined.
Alternative methods simply do not yield comparable results, they claim, as shrimp are bottom-dwelling and difficult to capture without the sweeping mechanism of trawl nets.
Many fishermen have claimed that what used to be a productive day at sea now results in only a fraction of the previous catch, making trips financially unviable once fuel, ice, labour and maintenance costs are considered.
This has directly impacted their income and, by extension, the stability of families who rely on shrimp season as a primary source of earnings.
Mr Al Olaiwi called on the authorities to ease the ban warning that continuing losses could push small-scale fishermen out of the trade altogether.
He also stressed the need to preserve coral reefs, which act as breeding grounds for fish and support the broader marine ecosystem.
“We understand that if we lose our coral reefs, we risk losing an entire chain of marine life that depends on them,” he said.
“However, we are working to ensure that fishing remains possible for generations to come – but in a way that does not destroy the very resources it depends on.”
Strong backing for the proposal has also come from Parliament’s public utilities and environment affairs committee chairman MP Mohammed Al Bulooshi, who described the initiative as both ‘timely and necessary’.
“We fully support Bahrain’s efforts to regulate fishing practices in a way that protects the environment while ensuring sustainability,” Mr Al Bulooshi said.
“This proposal introduces a balanced approach by prohibiting harmful practices in ecologically sensitive areas, particularly coral reefs, while allowing flexibility in zones that are less vulnerable.”
He added that the committee has consistently highlighted the urgent need to preserve Bahrain’s marine environment, pointing to increasing pressures from human activity and climate change.
If approved during Tuesday’s session, the measure would pave the way for updated regulations governing fishing practices, with authorities expected to define and map out reef-free zones where trawling could still be permitted under strict controls.
The trawling ban was introduced after it emerged that the country’s fish stocks had dropped by 90 per cent since 2004.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))