Despite ban, Bahrain shrimp being sold in GCC markets
Manama : While the authorities here have imposed a ban on all shrimping activities in the country for six months, Bahraini shrimp is being caught, smuggled and sold in markets across the neighbouring countries, according to local fishermen who paid visits to central fish markets in GCC countries, especially Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Large quantities of fresh shrimps are seen displayed in those markets as shown in a recent footage that DT News obtained a copy of.
As reported last Sunday, Bahraini shrimps are openly sold in public markets in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. They are sold as cheap as BD7.
Bahrain Fishermen’s Society (BFS) President Waheed Al Dossary censured the authorities here for their “leniency” with violators of the shrimp ban.
He demanded enforcing more deterrent punishments against anyone caught breaching the ban by catching shrimp, selling it or smuggling abroad.
Al Dossary and other members of the society met senior State officials during the past month to convey fishermen’s irritation of the continuous breach of the ban and endangering the marine environment of Bahrain.
As reported earlier, the sale and catch of shrimps are banned in Bahrain as per a decision taken by Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Minister Essam Khalaf issued on March 7.
The minister’s decision bans shrimping for six months, between March 15 and September 15. According to the resolution, violators are subjected to fines and penalties that include imprisonment and confiscation of boats and fishing equipment.
However, BFS members repeatedly told that the ban is frequently breached by organised networks that secretly sell fresh shrimps to local shops and restaurants, as well as smuggling it to fish traders in regional markets.
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