Joint marine agency to save our seas

There will be no fish after 50 years due to overfishing, pollution and climate change which lead to major changes in the temperature of seawater and the marine environment, a study found.

If this is the case in the world's seas, what would be the situation in the Gulf region?

Of course, the situation of the semi-closed Gulf region would be worse than that of the seas of the world.

The Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi pointed to the possibility of the disappearance of some fish species, such as hammour.

The environment agency would not issue such a warning, if there were not enough reasons for it.

For instance, hammour started to actually dwindle in Saudi Arabia's eastern region which overlooks the Arabian Gulf, as well as in Bahrain where this kind of fish is rarely available in the local market. And, if ever hammour is available, it would be sold at high prices.

Also, a remarkable fish shortage has been recently noticed in some fish markets in the UAE, such as the fish market in Umm Al Quwain, which is known for its rich diversity of fish.

For hundreds of years, the sea was the main source of food for our ancestors, who made a living by fishing and pearling.

Marine resources, including pearls, constituted a significant contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the region in the pre-oil era.

There are many reasons for the rapid deterioration of the marine environment. Apart from overfishing, pollution and climate change, the Gulf region is suffering from pollution caused by oil tankers which illegally dump their waste in seas and oceans.

The outbreak of wars in the region over the past three decades and their destructive consequences is another reason.

Nuclear-powered foreign vessels which cross the region's seas and waterways also cause damage to marine life.

Thus, we are facing a phenomenon that threatens one of our most important sources of food.

This requires countries overlooking the Gulf to work together to stop the deterioration of marine life. This is simply because no one will be spared from losses and grave consequences.

In my opinion, countries in the region should agree on solutions to the problem through coordination, as the dangers threatening fisheries are felt by all. Certainly, climate change is an international phenomenon which requires collaborative global efforts to prevent the dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.

This is happening now at an international level and can be seen through international efforts and procedures aiming to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in line with UN environmental treaties.

Among these is the Kyoto Protocol which established binding commitments for the reduction of greenhouse gases and stabilisation of greenhouse concentrations resulting from gas emissions in the atmosphere.

In the Gulf, there are constructive procedures that can be implemented by GCC countries, the first of which is establishing a joint GCC authority for the protection of marine environment.

This proposed body must be tasked with monitoring vessel traffic, especially oil tankers, and imposing fines and stringent penalties on tankers that throw their waste in seas and oceans.

The second need is to establish an authority to set fishing seasons, as followed in some countries. Setting a certain period of time for fishing and banning it during spawning period has contributed to increasing fish production in these countries.

Fishing seasons are enforced in some countries to maintain ecological balance and to protect species of fish during their spawning period.

The writer is a UAE-based economic expert.