Dubai: Inshore commercial fishing using seine nets will be limited to a harvest season starting from October 1 through to June 30, 2016, according to a new decree announced on Wednesday by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.
Surface fishing 1.1 nautical miles within beachfronts will also be done only with approved seine nets that meet newly laid-out specifications for weight, length and width as set by the ministry under the decree.
The ministry also reiterated warnings that “hunting of sea turtles and/or collection of their eggs is strictly prohibited and hunting of dolphins, whales, dugongs and other marine mammals is strictly prohibited”.
Salah Abdullah Al Rayssi, director of Fisheries Department at MOCCAE, said on Wednesday that the new rules are in concert with the sustainable fishing methods to ensure stocks for future generations along UAE coastal waters of the Gulf.
“In line with the objectives of the ministry’s strategy and as a core pillar of UAE Vision 2021, this decision promotes food safety, sustainability of domestic production and conservation of marine environment. 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. It supports the preservation, development and sustainability of fish stocks by allowing them time to lay eggs and set off migration,” said Al Rayssi in a statement.
The ministry said the rules will “avoid depletion of fish as they are an important and dependable source of nourishment.”
Al Rayssi indicated that after meeting with fishermen and listening to their needs with regards to fishing using beach seines, the ministry updated several general provisions, where fishermen are to set sail for surface fishing using beach seines after Fajr prayer.
Fishermen may not toss fishing seines outside the 1.1 nautical miles radius from the shore, all beach seines must be pulled from the water by Maghrib prayer of the same day, all fishing boats must pull over at checkpoints while exiting or entering the waters, and all fishing equipment must be packed on a single boat.
