Bahrain court fines three BD1,000 each for fishing dolphins

TDT | Manama    

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The Second High Criminal Court yesterday slapped BD1,000 fines each on three people charged with the illegal fishing of dolphins from the territorial waters of Bahrain.

The court also ordered the confiscation of the boat and the vehicle used for fishing dolphins and returning the dolphins to their natural habitat.

Incidents leading to the case occurred with the Coast Guard Command informing the Public Prosecution regarding the illegal fishing of dolphins to conduct shows at a facility in Bahrain.

The facility allegedly caught three dolphins. The Public Prosecution launched an investigation immediately and interrogated the suspects, and required the Supreme Council for the Environment to file a report.

SCW officials informed Public Prosecution that the facility had no dolphins when they visited six months ago. The officials also informed the court that the authority had not issued the facility any permits to import dolphins during the past six months.

According to this, the Public Prosecution ordered to seize the boat and the vehicle used for transporting the dolphins. The Prosecution also ordered the suspects to face trial before the Minor Criminal Court, which acquitted the suspects.

However, in a further ruling, the High Criminal Court issued its verdict fining the suspect, with the Chief Prosecutor clarifying before the court that it is illegal to fish Dolphins in the territorial waters of the Kingdom.