A ban in vain

Manama : The six-month ban imposed on ‘Shrimping activities’ in Bahrain is turning out to be a boon for poachers and smugglers who are selling tonnes of their illegal catch in  markets here at higher prices.

“They are hiding it behind their stalls at fish markets and selling it to customers for a higher price,” said Mazen Ahmad Al-Omran, Vice Chairman of Capital Municipal Council to DT News. 

Al Omran said the Council has footages to prove the claim. He said the footages shows that there are people in Bahrain, who works illegally to beat the real purpose of the ban. 

 “We had also received several complaints in this regard,” he added. 

“The ban is in place to preserve the environment and to ensure good supply of shrimps in future.”

“We also believe preserving environment is a national duty,” said Al Omran, while calling on all to report violations to the
Council.  

Al Omran also confirmed that it is illegal to sell shrimp on the streets as per Bahrain’s law. 

A  meeting was held yesterday at the Council’s headquarters in Zinj to discuss the issue in the presence of Mazen Ahmad Al Omran, Vice Chairman of Capital Municipal Council and President of the Professional Fishermen’s Association Wahid Al-Dosari. 

The Council viewed that the ban has resulted in an increase in the number of poachers and smugglers. 

When asked about the actions taken, Al-Dosari told DT News, “This illegal trade is no more hidden. We are therefore demanding stricter supervision to prevent selling shrimps on all possible places including streets, markets in villages and cities or in any such places.” 

He said that the Council would make sure that stricter actions are taken against those violating the law. 

The shrimping ban came into effect on March 15, as per the Resolution 27 of 2017 issued on March 7 by the Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Minister, Essam Khalaf. 

The resolution forbids shrimping as well as sale of fresh shrimps in Bahrain for a period of six-months. 

The resolution also says that violators will be subjected to penalties as mentioned in the Law 20 of 2002, which requires  confiscation of ships and equipment used in shrimping during the ban.