Decreased 60%. The emirate bans fishing from January to July 31 annually

Strict controls to reduce depletion of fish stocks in um Al Quwain

No person has the right to fish in um Al Quwain Creek unless he holds a license. Photo by Patrick Castillo

Jassim Humaid Ghanem Ali, Director of the Committee for the Regulation of Marine Affairs and Living Aquatic Resources, and Chairman of the Fishermen's Association in um Al Quwain, revealed to "Emirates Today" that there is a severe shortage in fish stocks, especially local fish in um Al Quwain by 60%, after conducting a comprehensive study by the fishing and marine control committees, and the Fishermen's Association and offers in «Dukat» selling in the fish market, during the past five years on the extent to which the fish stock in the emirate was affected by the state of depletion and overfishing.

He explained that the committee seeks to reduce the depletion of fish wealth and overfishing on the beaches of the emirate, and accordingly strict decisions and controls have been issued for fishing requirements in um Al Quwain, and the permitted tools, in addition to the permitted speeds in um Al Quwain Creek, the port area and the navigational channel, in addition to reducing wrong practices that are prohibited in the waters of um Al Quwain, and establishing marine and natural protected areas in which fishing activity in all its forms is prohibited to help revive fish stocks.

Ali added that the decisions to authorize fishing in the creek stipulate that no natural or privileged person has the right to practice the fishing profession in um Al Quwain Creek unless he has a prior and valid license, and must be of good conduct and behavior and be experienced in fishing, and that the issuance of fishing permits is for citizens of the emirate only, and that the age of the fisherman is not less than 18 years.

He pointed out that it is forbidden to take Asian workers on board fishing boats inside the creek, and only citizens from the emirate are allowed.

He added that the Qaraqir fishermen in the creek are set at 12 gargores per season, and the length of the nets (Alayakh) should not exceed 500 meters per boat for one continuous kit or two separate tools, and the depth should not exceed five meters.

Fishermen are allowed to use barchute nets, nylon nets are strictly prohibited, and the boat is allowed to fish only once a day, he said.

He pointed out that the owner of the boat must be on board at the time of fishing, and not more than 28 feet long, to practice fishing in the creek, and the engine power must not exceed 150 horsepower, and each fisherman must number the «paints» on the nets with his boat number, and number the gargoyles with the boat number on all gargoyles paints, and it is strictly forbidden to put gargoyles with shawah.

Ali added that the decision includes banning the practice of fishing in all its forms (nets - Qaraqir) for boats from the first of January until the date of July 31 each year, with the exception of fishing with line and hook for pleasure boats authorized by tourist facilities in the emirate.

He explained that fishing is allowed in the manner of nets inside the creek from 3 pm to 12 midnight, and it is also allowed to fish with gargoyles after the dawn prayer until 12 noon, and for the permissible speeds in the creek um Al Quwain, the port area and the navigational channel, it is allowed for boats and yachts 40 feet and above, at a speed of five knots or less, and boats less than 40 feet are allowed with a maximum of 30 knots, with a commitment to stay away at least 75 meters from Port docks and beaches, taking into account the reduction of speeds to five knots at yacht marinas and boats in front of tourist facilities.

He pointed out that with regard to the areas belonging to the emirate and fishing outside the um Al Quwain Creek, it is forbidden to fish with nets and allows the line, hook and gargoyles from the shore up to four nautical miles from the emirate's shores, and strictly prohibits the bottom and surface crafts (working) in um Al Quwain Creek and on the beaches of the emirate.

It is forbidden to install or carry more than one marine crane (winch) on licensed fishing boats using nets, he said, and it is forbidden to close the nets from below while fishing pelagic fish by the barber method (Tahwita). The resolution stated that the length of the nets (Lekh) should not exceed 1100,20 meters for one or two separate tools together, and the depth should not exceed <> meters so as not to touch the seabed.

He explained that each fisherman must number all the paints in the nets with the boat number, and number the gargoyles by the boat number on all gargoyles paints, and that the number of gargoyles allowed outside the creek based on the length of the boat, is two gargoyles per foot of the boat, 50 gargoyles for 25 feet, 60 gargoyles for 30 feet, 70 gargoyles for 35 feet, 80 gargoyles for 40 feet and above, and 150 gargoyles for origins, so that the number allowed for gargoyles for the season is at once or in batches.

Ali added that it is prohibited to use nylon, mono, double, tri-thread or multi-ciliated nets in one thread, and multi-layer nylon nets, and only parachute nets are allowed, and it is prohibited to dispose of any waste, dirt, oils, grease, contaminated water, chemicals or petroleum materials from ships, ships, fishing boats and boats, or throwing rotten fish, damaged fibers, fishing tools, or any other means that could lead to damage to wealth. Live aquatic and environmental cleanliness.

He pointed out that it is forbidden to catch small fish and marine life whose length is less than the permissible limit, and return them to the sea as soon as they are discovered within the catch quantities, and it is prohibited to fish in areas where fishing is prohibited permanently or temporarily, and it is forbidden to land pleasure boats and jet skis on public beaches, and it is allowed through licensed tourist facilities, and it is forbidden to use jet skis through rental companies and allows licensees from the official authorities only.

He stated that the decision prohibits the practice of fishing activity in all its forms and by any means in the areas of natural reserves, and it is only authorized for pleasure boats by fishing by line and hook, and it is also prohibited to enter and exit from the "Al-Ras Creek" and "Eastern Creek" (Ras Al-Dokha), except for pleasure boats licensed by tourist facilities, and it is prohibited to fish in the marine protected area located from the New Siniya Bridge to the Al-Mudfaq area, and it is prohibited to fish from Khor Al-Ras to the end of Khor Al-Ateen and on the two beaches.

He pointed out that fishing is prohibited from the marine protected area from Khor Al Ras and the ship rotation area, in addition to the quay of Ahmed bin Rashid Port and the navigational channel of the port, and from the end of the channel in a straight line adjacent to the shore of Al Siniya Island ending with the Mudfaq area, provided that these areas are shown with maps and coordinates attached to the decision for fishermen.

• Allow fishing with line, hook and gargoyles only from the shore and up to four miles from the shores of the emirate.

• Preventing the use of jet skis through rental companies and allowing licensees from the official authorities.

Costs and compensation

The Director of the Committee for the Regulation of Marine Affairs and Living Aquatic Resources, and Chairman of the Fishermen's Association in um Al Quwain, Jassim Humaid Ghanem Ali, confirmed that whoever causes, by his act or negligence, damage to the marine environment or to others, as a result of violating the provisions of the resolution or decisions issued in implementation thereof, shall be responsible for all costs and any compensation that may result therefrom, in addition to the application of violations and approved fines issued in this regard, and the decision also stipulated that the Marine Control Department in um Al Quwain Municipality shall be responsible for control work. Inspection and proof of violations carried out in violation of the provisions of the resolution, in coordination with the concerned authorities.