Bahrain bans shrimping for six months

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The annual six-month mandatory ban on catching, trading and selling shrimp in Bahrain came into effect today 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, Eng. Ibrahim Hassan Al Hawaj.

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 and the protection of fish stock in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Al Hawaj said that the decision also comes in line with the Gulf decisions regarding the protection of fish stocks in the kingdom and the Gulf countries. He noted that the Agency of Agriculture and Marine Resources will spare no effort in continuing the efforts that are 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 the Kingdom 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 of 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 its 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 number (20) of 2002 regarding the regulation of fishing and the exploitation and protection of marine wealth.