Ministry looking into fishermen's problem

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is looking into the problem of some UAE national fishermen who do not have compatriots to sail with their diesel-powered fishing boats.

Some 23 fishing boats owned by around 18 nationals from Dibba Al Fujairah, have been berthed at Dibba fishing harbour for over five months because the owners cannot go on board and neither do they have compatriots to put out to sea in line with Federal Law No. 23 for 1999.

Sulaiman Rashid Al Khadeem, Chairman of the Dibba Al Fujairah Fishermen's Association, said: "We approached the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and suggested a solution. We asked the ministry to allow fishermen to employ Arab or Gulf sailors as they cannot find nationals to do the job."

He said the ministry is still studying the association's proposal and promised to solve the problem very soon.

Most of the 18 fishermen are too old to put out to sea for a four or five-day fishing trip. Some others have government jobs and cannot take the time out.

Al Khadeem said: "We don't want to lose these fishermen. They are very experienced as most of them have been in the trade for over 30 years. We need them to stay so that younger fishermen can learn from them and improve their business."

He said all fishermen in Fujairah and Dibba have realised the significance of the new law in protecting trade and local fish stock and reducing dependence on Asian sailors.

"But the law should have considered the cases of some old national fishermen who are unable to sail since most of them have no other source of livelihood. They are suffering great losses."

Some 706 diesel-powered boats have had to drop anchor throughout the country because of this problem.

"There are around 600 launches and motorboats which use kerosene and they fish in Fujairah and Dibba. Their owners do not have problems since they sail and get good catches."

Fishing has improved since the beginning of summer because the water is getting cold and more fish are coming closer to the beaches.