Move to rein in massage parlours, ‘Karaaf’ fishing

Manama : The House of Representatives yesterday passed two urgent proposals to tighten the government’s grip on massage parlours and stop ‘Karaaf’ fishing.

The proposals were passed at the end of the regular weekly meeting of the House, chaired by Speaker Ahmed bin Ibrahim Al Mulla, at the Parliament House in Gudaibiya yesterday.

The first proposal is aimed at monitoring and initiating procedures to combat the “immoral” activities taking place inside massage parlours located in different areas and hotels in the Kingdom. Second Deputy Speaker of the Council Abdulhaleem Murad and MPs Anas Buhindi, Mohsen Al Bakry, Osama Al Khaja and Majid Al Majid moved the proposal.

The majority of MPs present at the session supported the proposal without discussing its details. The MPs also gave the green light to another urgent proposal to stop the traditional fishing method locally known as “Karaaf which endangers marine life and negatively affects the Kingdom’s food stocks and natural resources.

The MPs insisted on implementing Article 16 of Law Decree 20 of 2002 with regards to regulating fishing processes and protecting marine resources.

The Article stipulates that “a decision issued by the concerned Minister, in coordination with the concerned authorities, may prohibit the fishing of marine resources of all kinds temporarily for the purpose of protecting this wealth”. Article 20 of the same decree prohibits the use of nets, machinery and equipment that aren’t permitted by the authorities.

The “Karaaf” method is basically mowing the seabed using large nets to catch certain fish species and prawns. However, in this process many marine species such as sea turtles are killed. 

During the session the MPs also approved several bills and proposals, including imposing a ban on cross dressers and punishing violators and combating commercial monopoly.