New law to train Bahraini fishermen’s family members at sea under review

TDT | Manama

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Generations of Bahraini fishing knowledge could be saved through a new plan that would let fishermen train family members aboard their boats. The proposed law, now under review, seeks to keep the country’s fishing traditions alive by passing down skills within families, possibly lowering the reliance on expat workers. However, the government has raised some concerns about how this would be carried out. The law, which originally set rules on fishing and the protection of marine resources, would now allow fishermen to bring up to three close relatives on board. This change aims to keep fishing skills alive by passing them on to younger generations, ensuring local knowledge stays within Bahraini families.

Trade

It could also mean less need for expat workers in the trade. The Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee of the Council of Representatives backs the proposal, viewing it as a way to preserve Bahrain’s fishing heritage while offering more jobs for locals. The committee also believes that letting family members join fishermen could reduce the demand for expat labour in the industry. The government supports the general idea but noted that some of these aims might be met through current rules, which could be tweaked more easily than passing a new law. There are also concerns about how this new law would fit with other parts of the present fishing rules.

Regulations

The government is looking into how existing regulations might already allow for some of the family involvement in fishing. The Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture echoed the government’s concerns, while the Supreme Council for the Environment fully backed the proposal. The Council believes that bringing family members into the industry could cut down on the number of expat workers in commercial fishing.

Guidelines

They are also working on new guidelines that would officially recognise these relatives as ‘part-time sailors’. The proposal also aims to update old wording by changing ‘State of Bahrain’ to ‘Kingdom of Bahrain’, aligning it with the country’s constitution.