Al Gharbia, August 10: The Environment Authority – Abu Dhabi (EAD) has always been keen on protecting the welfare of fishermen by enacting legislation to streamline fishing, curb excessive fishing and to ensure that fishing resources are not depleted, according to Sabah Abdullah, EAD fish expert.
Unorganised fishing in the past was among the reasons of depletion of fish resources and disappearance of certain species, he pointed out, adding that the authority had made enormous efforts to promote fish aquaculture.
Abdullah made the remarks in response to complaints by a number of fishermen about the negative impact of law enforcement on the fishing industry.
On the suffering of fishermen as a result of depletion in fish stocks, he said, “My job is to collect quantities of fish that were caught everyday and compile all information required for making a realistic database for officials to benefit from it by taking appropriate decisions to preserve fishing resources.
A large number of fishermen in Delma Island have said that more than 40 per cent of fish stocks off the island’s shores had vanished.
In their complaints, the fishermen said a large number of them had abandoned fishing due to the stringent laws.
A number of fishermen demanded that in the event of breach of fishing rules, they should be dealt with leniently as the majority of the islanders had no other source of earning.
The new rules implemented by EAD have resulted in reducing the catch and the quantity is not sufficient for covering the fishing costs, which include labour wages, hike in diesel price and other expenses, said Mohammed Ali Khalil, fisherman. One fishing trip, he claimed, costs no less than Dh1,500, excluding the daily wages of the fishing boat master, which comes for Dh 500.
“A large number of fishermen have abandoned the profession and moved to live in Abu Dhabi due to the heavy losses,” he said.
According to law, fishing boats and trawlers cannot be operated unless the owner is on board.
The law allows only next of kin (closely related persons) to represent the aged and medically unfit owners of fishing boats, provided they submit a medical report from a government hospital in the UAE. Owners of fishing boats who have crossed the age of 60 are required to submit the birth certificate or documents as proof of their age.
The regulations also outline the rules and conditions for cancellation and sale of boats.
The buyer must be a UAE citizen having a licence from the competent authority to practice the profession, and that he must be present on board the fishing boat. The owner should not be under the age of 18, and must be of good conduct.
–Agencies