No official ban on shrimping yet

Manama : There is no official ban on shrimping in the Kingdom, the authorities announced.

Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry clarified in a press statement that “the information being spread on the ban is related to a parliamentary proposal in regarding ban on harmful shrimping methods.”

“The proposal suggested a ban on fishing and shrimping methods that pose threats to the marine environment. These include the traditional shrimping methods followed by fishermen,” the ministry explained in its statement.

The statement pointed out that steel nets weighing up to 150kg are used by fishermen, which is harmful to the marine life in the Island. 

“This greatly damages the seabed and the sea creatures, especially small fish. It dangerously harms the country’s strategic fish stock and negatively affects its food security,” the ministry added.

The ministry said it is currently following the government’s directives to allocate the best international practices to promote safe fishing and shrimping methods and encourage private fish farming projects.

Additionally, Prime Minister HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa issued directives to take the fishermen’s interests and the requirements of wildlife conservation into account while determining the shrimping areas. The PM also urged to tighten control over fishing using trawl nets. This was revealed during the regular weekly Cabinet meeting yesterday.

DT News had reported on Saturday that the government may consider permanently banning shrimping. This was mentioned in its reply to the Parliament’s proposal to ban fishing and shrimping methods that are harmful to the environment. 

The MPs explained that only one shrimping method (traditional) is followed in the Kingdom and it is considered very harmful to the environment as it affects the reproduction and growth of other sea creatures.