Dubai: Only fishing nets of certain sizes may be used on the UAE’s coasts, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment ruled this week in a decree.
Nets used for surface fishing in both the western and eastern coasts should have a maximum length of 1,100 metres and a maximum width of 20 metres and should not touch the seabed.
Meanwhile, in the eastern coast, the maximum net width is 28 metres and it should not touch the seabed.
The ministry also specified the open season for surface fishing was from October 15 of every year to May 15 of the following year, to avoid depletion of fish stocks.
The prohibited areas for fishing in the UAE are in natural or industrial marine reserves, inland waters such as natural or artificial lakes, areas that fall within three nautical miles from the military zones or marine islands or vital facilities, and power stations and desalination plants on the coast. Fishing within 500 metres outside the boundaries of petroleum industrial areas specified on marine charts is also banned.
Under ministry guidelines, all people who wish to fish should go through the checking points of their chosen fishing areas.
Additionally, all fishermen should register under their specific area of fishing and should inform the authority in case of changing the areas where they fish.
The decree No 695 for the year 2016 reflects the ministry’s aim to regulate professional fishing to preserve fish stocks, the ministry said.
“Banning surface fishing during a specific period of time is the first step of its kind to be taken by the ministry and a crucial one,” said Salah Abdullah Al Rayssi, the Fisheries Department’s director.
“It supports the preservation, development and sustainability of fish stocks by allowing them time to lay eggs and set off migration.”
