Bahrain bans shrimping for six months

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The annual six-month mandatory ban for catching, trading and selling shrimp in the Kingdom of Bahrain came into effect from yesterday and will last until July 31.

This was announced by the Undersecretary for Agriculture and Marine Resources at the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Dr Nabil Mohammed Abu Al Fateh.

The decision comes in accordance with the decision of Minister Eng. Essam bin Abdullah Khalaf to preserve marine wealth in a way that contributes to the development of the shrimping industry.

It is also part of an effort to allow the recovery of stocks in Bahrain to achieve sustainable development of marine resources.

Shrimps are locally called ‘Rubyan’.

Al Fateh said that the decision also comes in line with the Gulf decisions regarding the protection of stocks in the Kingdom and the Gulf countries.

He noted that the Agency for Agriculture and Marine Resources will spare no effort in continuing the work that is in the public interest of the Kingdom to achieve full protection of stocks and increase production.

Article 1 of the decision stipulates that it is forbidden to catch shrimp in the territorial waters of Bahrain from February 1 to July 31 of each year.

Article 2 stipulates that “it is prohibited to have nets, tools, machines, or any means to catch shrimp on board boats in the specified areas. To catch shrimp, as well as the mooring areas for boats if the purpose of their existence, is to catch shrimp during the period of validity of the ban referred to in Article 1 of this decision.”

Article 3 indicates that it is prohibited to display and circulate fresh, chilled, frozen and unprocessed shrimp in markets and public places for the purpose of marketing or selling, during the period of validity of the ban established in accordance with the provisions of the decision.

Article 4 specifies that whoever violates the provisions of this resolution shall be punished with the penalties stipulated in Decree-Law No. (20) of 2002 regarding the regulation of fishing, exploitation and protection of marine wealth.