The annual six-month ban on fishing and trading in shrimps will make its return on Sunday, the Supreme Council for Environment’s General Directorate of Marine Resources announced yesterday.
The ban, which will last until July 31, aims to preserve Bahrain’s stocks and protect its marine resources, in line with the kingdom’s efforts to achieve sustainable development in this sector.
The directorate confirmed that the decision comes within the council’s commitment to enhancing the protection of the marine environment and developing natural resources.
“It will cover all shrimp fishing methods, and the trading of shrimp in markets will also be prohibited during the ban period,” the directorate said. “Inspection campaigns will be held in co-ordination with the Coastguard to monitor the implementation of the ban.
“Penalties will be imposed on violators in accordance with the law related to the regulation and protection of marine resources.”
The directorate also noted that any fisherman whose fishing gear unintentionally captures shrimp during the specified period must immediately release them back into the sea, taking due care to ensure their safety.
Despite the ban, there have been numerous cases of rogue fishermen caught with illegal shrimp hauls over the past few years and one had tragic consequences.
Punishments stipulated in the 2002 Fishing Organisation, Practice and Protection Law see offenders jailed up to a month, or fined between BD300 and BD1,000, or both, besides having their equipment and haul confiscated.
On October 20 last year, suspects were engaged in illegal nighttime shrimp fishing in the Fasht Al Adham area when their vessel was intercepted by the authorities. A Bahraini, it was later discovered, fell overboard during the incident.
The Coastguard immediately launched a search and rescue operation, but initial efforts were unsuccessful and the search continued for approximately two weeks.
On November 1, authorities received a report from the Qatari Coast Guard stating that a body had been found at sea, which was later verified as the missing seaman.
In April last year, the Interior Ministry announced that almost 3,000kg of confiscated, illegally caught fish and shrimp were sold at public auction. And, in June, 394kg of shrimp were seized in separate incidents in Sitra and Salman Town.
Two months later, in August, Four individuals were arrested in the Khor Fasht area for using banned ‘koffa’ nets to catch shrimp. Another notable incident was when two vessels were seized off the coast Zallaq with 259kg of shrimp caught using banned bottom trawl nets.
The GDN reported in July last year that fishermen in Bahrain had urged the authorities to adopt ‘a more scientific and flexible approach’ towards shrimping, claiming that the annual ban was hurting their livelihoods.
They said that the kingdom should look at models from other GCC countries, including Saudi Arabia, and conduct studies and assessment of stocks before initiating a clampdown.
They claimed that the decision was not accompanied by any practical alternatives for fishermen or a clear plan for stock rehabilitation using scientifically-studied methods.
The fisherman claimed that hundreds of anglers lost their livelihoods and the market was flooded with illegally caught shrimp sold with little to no effective oversight.
In October, MPs unanimously approved a proposal calling on the government to lift the ban on fishing using bottom trawls, arguing that the annual bans had failed to achieve their intended environmental objectives.
More than seven years after the restriction was enforced, they said, there had been no noticeable recovery in marine life or fish diversity in Bahrain’s territorial waters. The proposal, submitted by five MPs led by Strategic Thinking Bloc spokesman Khalid Bu Onk, was referred to the Cabinet for review.
Many experts disagree with the MPs stand and suggest the bans remain essential environmental and food security tools. They involve a temporary stop in fishing activities during specific times of the year. This pause allows marine ecosystems to regenerate and gives species the opportunity to reproduce and grow without human interference. The goal is to prevent overfishing and guarantee the continued availability of fish resources.
nader@gdnmedia.bh
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