Cabinet nod for law to prevent exploitation of marine resources

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com

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The Cabinet of the Kingdom of Bahrain yesterday approved a new law to regulate the fishing, exploitation, and protection of marine resources.

Given Bahrain’s long history and tradition involving marine resources, proposals for regulating marine wealth have seen contentious debates in the lower and upper house of the Parliament in the recent past.

This has culminated in Monday’s decision by the Cabinet, which was based on a memorandum submitted by the Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs regarding a draft law amending the decree-law that regulates the use of marine wealth.

After extensive debates, the Shura Council, which is Bahrain’s upper legislative body, had in March this year voted in favour of a law to protect the Kingdom’s sea and marine resources.

Through the law, the Shura Council had unanimously voted for amending a 2002 law, titled Fishing Organisation, Catching and Protection Law.

This legislative decree had outlined the overall legislative framework regulating the exploitation of fisheries and other marine resources and identify the responsibilities of the competent authority.

Among its provisions were an outright ban on foreigners from practising commercial fishing.

It had also specified that commercial fishing should not be carried out without a license issued by the competent authority.

Even when a licence is obtained for commercial fishing, the law had stipulated that a Bahraini caption should be onboard.

The only exception as per the law was for fishing for the purpose of carrying out research or scientific studies, but that too needed the approval of the minister concerned.

Protecting marine wealth

In the 2002 law, steps to protect marine wealth were also outlined, which included a ban on catching of larvae or small marine organisms, sea turtles, seabirds, and other mammals or tamper with their places of origin and reproduction.

Key amendments

Through the proposed amendments, the Shura Council had called for a ban on foreign vessels fishing in Bahraini waters so as to prevent overexploitation and to protect dwindling fish populations. Local owners were also to face stricter controls, needing authorization for any modifications to their vessels.

As per Shura’s Public Utilities and Environment Affairs Committee, suchstrict measures were needed as overfishing has become rampant, leading to the destruction of marine habitats and pushing species to the brink of extinction.

The amendments would help in rejuvenating Bahrain’s marine ecosystem, the committee had argued. Further amendments sought for included bans on reclamation of dying fishing grounds without proper licensing and tighter rules for the sale of fishery products.

Fish farms

The amendments had also encouraged the development of fish farms to offset pressure on natural stocks, with government support to local fishermen in the form of technical guidance and financial aid.

Opposing voices at the Shura Council had highlighted the potential impact on tourism, particularly foreign fishing cruises.

However, a majority of the Shura Council had supported the amendments, stating that it would be a bold step in reversing environmental damage and will ensure the future of the Kingdom’s fisheries industry.

With the Cabinet nod for a detailed regulation, the bane of overfishing that had been devastating Bahrain’s waters are set to abate, giving a boost to long-term sustainability of the marine ecosystem.