Bahraini fishermen with part-time licences permitted to fish

TDT Manama

Bahraini fishermen with part-time licenses are now allowed to practise fishing, in accordance with the regulations in force, Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Minister Eng. Essam bin Abdulla Khalaf announced yesterday.

The decision was taken during a coordination meeting held between the Works Ministry’s Agriculture and Marine Resources undersecretary Dr. Nabeel Mohammed Abu Al Fateh and Coast Guard Commander Rear Admiral Alaa Abdulla Siyadi.

With regards to “part-time fishing licenses”, the Works Minister said that they are granted to Bahrainis to practise fishing in accordance with specific conditions and regulations—the most important of which is to help professional elderly fishermen or those who have circumstances that require them to have relatives on board the ship while fishing, in addition to licensed professional fishermen without expatriate workers.

The Minister added that the move aims to encourage Bahrainis to take up fishing, which is among the vital sectors adopted by the Works Ministry to achieve sustainable food security, in light of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s food security initiative. It is also part of the ongoing efforts to activate the “Bahraini Nakhutha” programme, in line with the instructions of the Cabinet, he said.

The Works Minister extended his thanks and appreciation to the Coast Guard Command for its constant cooperation with the Agriculture and Marine Resources Department for the best interests of the nation.