Manama, May 25: Bahrain on Sunday called for opening of GCC territorial waters to Gulf’s amateur fishermen.
The call, made by Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid Al Khalifa during a meeting of GCC Foreign Ministers in Jeddah, relates to 107 Bahraini fishermen who are being held by Qatari police.
The minister submitted to the GCC secretariat a memorandum which aims to prevent arrest of Bahraini fishermen straying into territorial waters of neighbouring countries, mainly Qatar.
Earlier this month a Bahraini fisherman was injured when he was allegedly shot by Qatari coastguard after straying into Qatari waters.
The Bahraini national is still in custody of Qatari police, awaiting court trial. Last year, a Bahraini fisherman died when his boat collided with a Qatari coastguard vessel during a chase.
Bahrain’s proposal aims to prevent repeat of such incidents which may affect relations between member states. Bahrain also stressed the importance of approving unified procedures for GCC nationals’ fishing and pleasure boats which may stray into other member states’ territorial waters.
–Agencies