Fish stocks under threat in the Arabian Gulf

Overfishing, a word hitherto unknown to the local fishermen, has now started echoing in their minds as UAE authorities are taking measures to protect vulnerable fish species in the Arabian Gulf. Fishermen have been feeling the crunch of overfishing, a serious threat to bio-diversity against which a number of environmentalists, wildlife groups, and non-governmental organisations are voicing concern. Dubai Municipality has recently raised penalties for fisherman who catch and sell fish smaller than specific lengths. Depending on the species, nobody is allowed to catch and sell a fish smaller than 17 to 42 cm. Anybody found violating the rules will be fined or have their fishing operation closed for repeated offences. The Food Control Department at the Dubai Municipality has vowed to confiscate fish smaller than the specified length. Dubai Fishermen's Cooperative Association supports the get-tough rules. Major General Mohammad Al Marri, association chairman, said some fishermen use illegal nets that are four times larger than allowed by law. But, Al Marri said he does not believe that there is a decline in fish stocks in UAE waters as no scientific study has yet supported it. Overfishing is considered a man-made ecological threat that happens when marine species are caught at a rate faster than they can reproduce. It is a global issue resulting from advanced fishing techniques, ever growing demand, poor legislation, and improper controls. Many fish species have been depleted — making them commercially extinct. Hamour is one of the most overfished species in UAE waters. Experts and watchdog organisations have been monitoring 14 most vulnerable fish species in Arabian Gulf waters, including hamour, pomfret and king fish. A report from the Ministry of Environment and Water has called for a fishing ban on all hamour smaller than 43 centimetres in length to allow smaller fish to reach breeding age. According to the ministry, three of every four hamour fished from Gulf waters are taken before maturity. Ahmad Abdul Rahman Al Janahi, Director of Fisheries at the ministry, said a three-year study on hamour has revealed that the fish needs protection from overfishing before its population collapses. He said the ministry has also been contacting GCC states to launch a conservation plan to ensure the hamour fishery survives. Studies have shown that 90 per cent of the large fish have disappeared from the world's oceans in the last 50 years. In 1999, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation estimated that 70-78 per cent of worldwide fish stocks require urgent intervention to prevent population declines and to rebuild species depleted by overfishing. Abdullah Khalifa Al Shamsi, an Emirati environmentalist in Al Ain, said overfishing has lately been viewed as a growing ecological problem in the country. Fishermen had taken it for granted that whatever they do at the sea, nothing will deplete resources. "It was a matter of ignorance," he said, noting that authorities must educate them on the vulnerability of fish stocks and in adopting proper techniques for sustainable fishing. The World Conservation Union's list of threatened species lists eight fish species in UAE waters as either endangered or vulnerable. Official UAE sources acknowledge the over-exploitation of the country's fish stocks. Surveys undertaken on behalf of the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD) have shown that most of the commercially important species have declined dramatically in recent years. Although tough legislation has been enacted, implementation has posed a challenge and inspection of fishing operations at sea is to be increased. Experts have also been suggesting that the number of fishing boats should be reduced to give an opportunity for stocks to replenish. The UAE government has taken several measures in the past to control the situation. A moratorium on new fishing licences was imposed in Abu Dhabi in 2002 and, partly as a result, the number of fishing trips fell from 7,300 in 2004 to 5,900 in 2008. The EAD launched a campaign for the protection of UAE fish stocks in August 2009. The drive introduces sustainable seafood concepts to UAE by engaging retail, gastronomy and corporate sectors and encouraged them to promote the eco-labelling of fish.