Dubai: Fish prices have risen sharply after authorities banned the fishing and sale of rabbitfish (safi) and emperor fish (sheri) from March 1 to April 30 — which is their reproductive season to protect their overfishing.
The local fish varieties, together with the groper fish (hamour), are hugely popular in the UAE because of their taste and availability. However, the high demand has led to their overfishing.
Fish sellers at Deira fish market said small juvenile hamour and other juvenile fish are also not available. Fish buyers and sellers have reported a steep rise in prices following the seasonal ban, saying per kilo rates have risen roughly by 40 to 100 per cent.
The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment in 2015 said the seasonal ban — part of the Ministerial Decision No (501) for 2015 — will be implemented annually to protect stocks, which have dropped significantly. A poster at the market says only seven per cent of sheri and safi is now left in the sea.
“Please don’t ask for us during our reproductive season from March 1 to April 30,” cartoons of the fish say on the poster.
“This [seasonal ban] has never happened before. The authorities are serious about it. They are checking the market daily and putting heavy fines on violators,” said Mohammad Rafiq, a fish salesman from Pakistan.
The ban on some fish has led to demand for other varieties, pushing up prices, he added. “Hamour used to be Dh20-Dh25 per kilo but is now Dh35-Dh40. This will continue till the seasonal ban ends.”
Mohammad, a 30-year-old customer from Yemen, said he was struggling to find deals. “I’m a regular customer here and bring a box with me when I shop. But it’s empty because I can’t find the fish I want and other varieties are too expensive, almost 100 per cent more,” he added.
According to the ministry, violators will be given a written notice at first and have their fish confiscated. Repeated offenders will be given a Dh1,000 fine and have their fish confiscated, followed by a one-week closure of operations.
