An annual two-month ban on crab fishing will be lifted on Saturday, allowing fishermen to resume catching the species in the kingdom’s waters, the Supreme Council for Environment (SCE) announced yesterday.
The ban, which began on March 15 and remains in effect until May 15, prohibits the catching, selling and trading of crabs, with violators facing fines ranging from BD300 to BD1,000.
During the period, fishermen are required to immediately release any crabs caught accidentally, ensuring their safe return to the sea.
“The council affirms the General Directorate of Marine Resources’ commitment to preserving biodiversity and regulating fishing activities in line with international environmental standards, aiming to balance economic benefit with sustainability,” the SCE said.
“We commend the co-operation of fishermen during the ban and stress the importance of continued co-ordination with regulatory bodies to protect the marine environment and support national sustainability goals.”
Meanwhile, a fishing ban on sheri, safi and andaq fish is still ongoing and will remain in place until the end of the month.
The SCE stated in March that the ban will enhance the sustainability of environmental balance, rehabilitate the ecosystem, and increase the quantity and variety of marine life available in local markets.
Just like crabs, fishermen who catch sheri, safi and andaq species until the end of this month must promptly release them back into the sea.
The authorities, led by the Coast Guard, are expected to intensify patrolling the kingdom’s waters during this period as they usually do to ensure that fishermen adhere to the rules.
Legal action has been taken against violators in recent years, with cases referred to the criminal courts.
An annual six-month ban on shrimp fishing and trading is also underway until July 31. It covers all fishing methods, with the sale of shrimp in markets prohibited during the period.
Despite the restrictions, authorities have recorded numerous cases of rogue fishermen caught with illegal shrimp hauls over the years.
Last year, the GDN reported that fishermen across Bahrain called on authorities to modify the seasonal bans, saying it was making it increasingly difficult to earn a living.
In a social media post, the Fishermen’s Society urged officials to clarify the ban’s primary objective and proposed limiting fishing to a controlled level instead of enforcing a blanket ban.
The society claimed that this would ensure the sustainability of the fish species as well as allow fishermen to do their jobs.
The society also argued that maintaining 10 to 20 per cent of the spawning population is sufficient to ensure stock replenishment, pointing to the large numbers of juvenile fish seen every September from eggs laid in preceding months.
It added that conservation efforts should prioritise protecting juvenile fish in September rather than targeting spawning fish in April and May.
nader@gdnmedia.bh
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