MOCCAE regulates surface fishing

Dubai / Emirates Business

The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) issued Ministerial Decree No.695 for the year 2016 on regulating surface fishing using surrounding nets. The resolution reflects the ministry’s aim to regulate professional fishing to preserve, develop and ensure the sustainability of fish stocks, and enhance food security by protecting fish stocks from
depletion.
Detailing the new rule, Salah Abdullah Al Rayssi, Director of Fisheries Department at MOCCAE, said: “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.”
The legislation will regulate surface fishing using surrounding nets by standardizing the specifications of the seines that should be used during the hunt. The legislature further specified the open season for surface fishing to be during the period from October 15 of every year to 15 May of the following year, to avoid depletion of fish as they are an important and dependable source of nourishment.
Al Rayssi indicated that the decree stipulates the specifications of nets used for fishing in both western and eastern coasts as: maximum length of net is 1100 m and maximum width of net is 20 m and should not touch the seabed, while in in eastern coasts maximum width of net is 28 m and should not touch the seabed.
“The net should not be closed from the bottom while catching the surface fishes using surrounding net, or the net should not be tied with more than one boat,” he said.
“The prohibited areas for fishing are: Natural or industrial marine reserves, inland waters such as natural or artificial lakes, areas that fall within three nautical miles from the military zones or marine islands or vital facilities, power stations and desalination plants on the coast, or located within 500 meters outside the boundaries of petroleum industrial areas specified on marine charts,” he elaborated.
“All fishermen should go through the checking points of the concerned fishing areas while they go for fishing and return. All fishermen should register under his specific area of fishing and should inform the authority in case of changing the fishing area obeying all fishing and safety rules of each emirate,” Al Rayssi added.