Authorities have been urged to suspend action against fishermen after many of them were fined for docking their boats at Muharraq Jetty amid what they say is a severe shortage of available berthing space.
The Muharraq Municipal Council has also called for land to be allocated for additional docking facilities, stressing the need to safeguard the livelihoods of fishermen and their families.
The council yesterday unanimously approved an urgent proposal submitted by chairman and area councillor Abdulaziz Al Naar, calling for enforcement measures to be halted until a long-term solution is found.
Around 120 boats belonging to around 500 fishermen operating from the jetty have reportedly been marked with violation notices.
A vehicle lift was brought to the jetty yesterday to remove the vessels, with fishermen informed they would need to pay BD80 to recover their boats, covering fines and towing costs to the Raya Jetty warehouse, councillors said.
Fearing the loss of their vessels, some fishermen moved their boats to roadside locations, including near Airport Highway, Isa Al Kabeer Avenue and residential neighbourhoods.
While the Muharraq Governorate has three main jetties – Muharraq, Hidd and Raya – fishermen say available docking space remains insufficient.
“This is the livelihood of hundreds of Bahraini fishermen and their families, and we cannot address the problem simply by issuing violations when there are no adequate docking spaces available,” Mr Al Naar said.
Mr Al Naar
He pointed to a large plot within Muharraq Jetty that was allocated to a Bahraini investor in 2007 for docking facilities but has remained undeveloped.
“The land should be reclaimed and converted into proper docking space for fishermen, with reasonable fees if necessary,” he said.
“We need solutions, not penalties. If fishermen do not have enough space in the water, where are they expected to keep their boats?”
The issue, councillors warn, could also have implications for Bahrain’s seafood supply. Muharraq Jetty is the kingdom’s largest fishing hub, with around 70 per cent of Bahrain’s fishermen operating from the facility.
The fishermen claim the crackdown is putting further pressure on an industry already struggling with rising costs, shrinking docking space and soaring seafood prices.
Fishermen’s spokesman Ali Al Hamad said keeping boats permanently in the water was not always a viable option, as prolonged exposure could damage vessels and lead to costly repairs.
“There are not enough spaces in the water for boats to dock, which is why we have to keep some boats outside,” he said.
“Boats can also be damaged if they remain in the water for long periods, resulting in additional repair costs.”
Mr Al Hamad warned that the dispute could eventually affect consumers through higher seafood prices.
“With fish migrating to cooler waters due to rising temperatures, maintenance and operating costs increasing, and now fishermen facing fines and boat confiscations, what are we supposed to do?” Mr Al Hamad said.
“Bahraini safi is already selling for BD7 per kilogramme and prices could rise further. People may eventually have to rely on imported Omani fish, which currently sells for around BD4 per kilogramme.”
Following yesterday’s council meeting, Mr Al Naar and fellow councillors visited Muharraq Jetty to meet fishermen and express their support.
The council has urgently referred the matter to Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Minister Wael Al Mubarak, requesting that it be raised with Oil and Environment Minister and Special Envoy for Climate Affairs Dr Mohammed Bin Daina.
For now, fishermen say they are waiting for a solution that keeps their boats, and their livelihoods, by the sea rather than parked along the roadside.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))