Bill passed to let Bahraini fishermen take family to sea without extra red tape

TDT | Manama

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A bill letting Bahraini fishermen take their sons and close relatives aboard their boats without extra red tape passed Parliament yesterday, a move aimed at keeping the trade within local families and handing skills down the line.

The measure, which updates a 2002 law on marine resources, had been sent back for another look after MPs raised concerns about how it would work in practice.

Fishermen’s associations, had warned that restrictions had already forced many to hire foreign crew, leaving the trade leaning heavily on expat labour and pushing more locals into hobby fishing, where numbers have swelled to around 12,000 amateur fishermen.

Rules

Government backed the idea but pointed out that rules brought in over the past few years already cover much of what the law sets out to do.

They also flagged possible snags, such as clashes between fishermen who want to bring family along and boat owners who might not agree.

The Minister of Oil and Environment, His Excellency Dr Mohamed bin Mubarak Bin Dainah, said the government had no issue with the bill’s goal but believed it might not go far enough.

Practical concerns

"This isn’t about blocking it, but there are practical concerns," he told MPs. "A fisherman should be able to take a relative on board, but what about the captain? The law only applies to the fisherman, which might not be enough. If this covered more people, it would help train up more young Bahrainis and open up more jobs."

He also said Supreme Council for Environment president Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa had already approved a rule allowing Bahrainis to go out on fishing boats under certain limits.

"This is already in place, with caps on numbers," he said. "There’s also the option of a separate permit for Bahraini fishermen. These are the technical points, but the decision is yours."

Hobbyists

MPs backing the bill argued that full-time Bahraini fishermen should not be held back when hobbyists can take people out to sea with little fuss. MP Khalid Buanaq, the committee rapporteur, said the current setup is unfair.

"Right now, a hobby fisherman can take someone out easily, but a professional can’t even take his own son to teach him the ropes," he said. "If we don’t want this trade to vanish, we have to let the families of full-time fishermen learn it properly."

Financial backing

He also called for financial backing to help Bahrainis get into the industry, saying they should have access to Tamkeen funds just like other trades.

"Fishing families should have the same support as anyone else trying to run a business," he said. "They should be able to get help if they want to make a go of this as a job."

Buanaq also pointed to red tape that makes things harder than they need to be.

Guest

At the moment, a fisherman’s guest has to be registered with the Ministry of Labour and get a permit.

He said that should be scrapped in favour of a simpler rule.

"Why should a full-time fisherman have to wade through paperwork just to take his son out to sea?" he said. "This is about making sure our fishing trade survives."