Dubai: Highly sought after rabbitfish (safi) and emperor fish (sheri) have returned to fish markets after the end of protective seasonal ban on their commercial harvesting from March 1 to April 30.
The ban was first imposed by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment in 2015 to shelter the fish stocks from overfishing during their reproductive season.
Both safi and sheri are immensely popular alongside hamour for their taste in the UAE, but the growing popularity led to a steep decline in numbers to a reported seven per cent of original stocks prompting the decision two years ago to impose seasonal fishing restrictions.
Alia Al Harmoudi, Director of Environment Department at Dubai Municipality, said in a statement on Monday that commercial fishermen and fish vendors complied 100 per cent with the federal decree which is enforced by municipal inspectors in Dubai.
“This is a sign of their keenness to preserve the fish resources in the Emirate and prevent its depletion. The aim of the ban seemed clear to them as they were keen to implement the decree not out of fear of violations, but in order to increase the stock of fish of these two species to benefit them after the embargo season,” said Al Harmoudi.
She said the Environment Department team worked closely with the concerned parties in the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment to implement the control and inspection plan on fish markets and outlets in Dubai emirate to enforce the decree.
Al Harmoudi said inspection campaigns during March and April on the sale of fish at 40 fish counters in the fish market at the fishing port in Umm Suqeim and shops of fresh fish sales in 42 shopping malls all passed monitoring efforts.
“In order to educate them a number of posters were distributed that showed the types of fishes that were banned for catching and marketing. Fishermen and fish sellers were also distributed with booklets with guidelines on the Ministerial Decree No. 501 as well as the Ministerial Decree No. 580 of 2015 on the prevention of fishing and marketing of small sizes of fish that have less length than the allowed limit,” she said.
Aisha Al Murr Al Muhairi, Head of Natural Resources Protection Section, said the inspection times during the embargo period in March and April coincided with the timings of landing in ports and fish markets during the morning and evening periods.
“They were also inspected over the weekend when display of fish is more compared to the rest days the week,” she said. “A detailed report on the percentage of compliance of the establishments will be submitted to the Ministry as it is the national focal point in this decree,” said Al Muhairi.
“Dubai Municipality thanks all fishermen, wholesalers, fish merchants and the public for ensuring their commitment to implement the decree to regulate fishing and marketing of sheri and safi during their breeding season. Fisheries are a natural resource for us and for our future generation, so we have to keep it and prevent depletion and encourage programs and legislations for its sustainability,” she said.
