Bahrain joins global fight against illegal fishing to safeguard marine life

TDT | Manama

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Bahrain is joining a global effort to crack down on illegal fishing, with Oil and Environment Minister, His Excellency Dr Mohammed bin Daina, telling Parliament yesterday that the move is about protecting the country’s waters and marine life, not ticking diplomatic boxes.

“This aims to stop illegal fishing,” he said. “Overfishing is hammering biodiversity everywhere, not just in the Arabian Gulf. It’s happening out in the open seas too.”

The discussion took place as Parliament debated a draft law on approving the amended protocol to the Marrakesh Agreement establishing the World Trade Organisation, which now includes new rules on fisheries subsidies.

Bin Daina stressed that biodiversity shortages were not just a local concern but a worldwide issue, driven by decades of excessive fishing.

Marine ecosystems

“The world isn’t just running short on fish — entire marine ecosystems are under pressure,” he said.

He dismissed any suggestion that Bahrain’s move was politically motivated.

“We’re not in this for politics. The way we manage fisheries and enforce the law at sea already lines up with what this agreement calls for,” he said.

Rule-breakers

The agreement, he said, is about holding rule-breakers to account.

“If someone ignores fishing laws, they should face the consequences,” he told MPs.

So far, 89 countries have ratified the deal, including four Gulf states.

Bahrain is adding its name to the list, with Bin Daina making it clear why.

Industry

“Fisheries aren’t just an industry,” he said. “They’re tied to our food, our fishermen, our markets — things that matter to every person in Bahrain.’

MPs, he noted, were on the same page.

“There’s a lot of backing for our marine resources, and that’s clear from today’s talks. Joining this agreement makes sense if we want to keep our waters and our fish stocks in good shape for the long haul,” he said.