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The annual six-month ban on fishing and trading in shrimps begins on Saturday (Feb 1), the Supreme Council for Environment General Directorate of Marine Resources announced yesterday (Jan 30).
The ban, which will end on July 31, is aimed at preserving fish stocks and protecting the kingdom’s marine resources.
It also aligns with Bahrain’s efforts to achieve sustainable development in the fishing sector.
The ban prohibits all methods of shrimp fishing and trading in markets.
“This measure comes as part of the ministry’s commitment to enhance marine environment protection and natural resource conservation,” the directorate said in a statement.
“Inspection campaigns will continue in co-ordination with the Coastguard to ensure compliance during the ban period.
“We urge fishermen to adhere to the terms of the ban; violators will face penalties and legal consequences.
“Fishermen who accidentally catch shrimp until July 31, must release them back into the sea, while ensuring their safety and well-being.”
Officials have also urged fishermen and seafarers to co-operate with sea and land patrols to enable them to carry out their duties.
Last year, from January to July, 820 maritime violations were registered by the Coastguard related to registration and licensing laws, catching small fish and shrimps, using floating fishing nets and fishing in marine reserves.
The Coastguard highlighted efforts to protect marine life in the regional waters and said 1,661kg of fish and shrimp, collected by fishermen in violation of rules, were confiscated last year (2024).
The GDN reported earlier this month that tough measures were underway to tackle violations that could damage the marine ecosystem and lead to depletion of the country’s fish stocks.
Oil and Environment Minister Dr Mohammed Bin Daina highlighted practices such as overfishing, the use of illegal tools and the catching of juvenile fish, which will be met with legal action.
Campaigns are ongoing to remove unlicensed fishing traps as part of broader enforcement efforts.
The minister said using prohibited fishing tools, such as bottom trawl nets and ‘hyali’ nets, remains one of the most significant infractions. He underscored the importance of enforcing temporary fishing bans and organising joint inspection campaigns with other governmental entities to curb violations.
In 2018, a trawling ban was introduced after it emerged that the country’s fish stocks had dropped by 90 per cent since 2004.
Trawling has one of the highest bycatch rates of all fishing techniques and often damages the sea floor, with nets that are dragged along the sea bottom and scoop up everything in their path. Species caught include turtles and juvenile fish.
nader@gdnmedia.bh
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