Imprisonment and a fine of up to 50 thousand dirhams, as a penalty for violating marine environment legislation

A roadmap for preserving fisheries wealth in Abu Dhabi

The authority has detected violations related to marine fishing using gargoor in the waters of the emirate.

From the source

The Environment Agency in Abu Dhabi announced the monitoring of several violations related to marine fishing using gargoyles.

She revealed her work during the next five years to implement a road map to preserve the fish wealth in the waters of the Emirate, which includes setting policies and legislation, and issuing strategies, guidelines, and regulations that help in the growth of the aquaculture sector.

In detail, the Environment Agency in Abu Dhabi called on practitioners of the craft of marine fishing and sea-goers to abide by the legislation regulating the protection of the marine environment, and the exploitation of living aquatic resources within the emirate, in order to avoid the penalties prescribed in this regard, which amount to imprisonment for a period of no less than three months, and a fine of up to 50,000 dirhams. In addition, the boat and fishing equipment were confiscated.

She confirmed that fishing is practiced commercially in seven locations, and recreationally in more than 40 locations in Abu Dhabi, and that there are 2,818 active commercial fishermen, and 3,164 licensed recreational fishermen, most of whom are residents, contributing to an annual fishing harvest of 128 million dirhams.

And she added, "Out of the 28 species for which there are stock assessments, 12 have exceeded sustainable levels, and accounted for 61 percent of total landings, and 77 percent of wholesale revenues, in 2019."

She emphasized her work on implementing fisheries and aquaculture policies, plans and legislation necessary to ensure sustainability, adopting innovative research and monitoring, to support habitat restoration and stock replenishment, expanding participation and awareness efforts, and enhancing the social, cultural and economic value of fisheries and aquaculture, noting its status as an indicator of performance. As part of its strategic plan to achieve 81% of the sustainable exploitation of fisheries in the emirate, and achieve 30% of the average relative size of the fish stock, in addition to achieving a 30% increase in aquaculture production compared to wild fishing, to achieve the recovery of the productive stock of fish species that have been overexploited. , returning them to sustainable thresholds, and returning fisheries in Abu Dhabi to international sustainability standards.

The authority revealed that, through the strategic plan “2021-2025”, it is developing policies and legislation to continue efforts to enhance fisheries in Abu Dhabi, and developing and issuing strategies, guidelines and regulations to help the growth of the aquaculture sector, so that it can increase its contributions to Abu Dhabi’s economy, and it will work Also with the Department of Economic Development and the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, to implement the planned regulation tools, such as the Aquaculture Permits Portal.

It explained that it will work to stimulate the marketing of aquaculture, ecotourism, and innovation, by defining an ideal marketing model for cultured pearls, conducting research or assisting in the field of renewable aquaculture, and enhancing opportunities for related commercial activities. It will also address the unsustainable fishing of fish species, from By setting daily individual fishing limits, and limits for recreational fishing boats, and strengthening cooperation with the Vital Facilities and Coasts Protection Authority to address illegal, unregistered and unregulated fishing, in addition to making use of technology in enforcement and monitoring processes, to ensure the availability of key information and data.

The authority indicated that it will also work to enhance its current program of research, monitoring and resource assessment, by establishing a new research center and vessel, and will conduct studies on carbon footprint, energy density and blue carbon, catch assessment and efforts made in recreational fisheries, in addition to continuing its efforts to restore key habitats, Expansion through measures such as planting mangrove seedlings and installing coral reefs and coral parts, in addition to setting up a program to educate and educate Emirati youth on fishing techniques, and launching a pilot project for aquaculture in a sea cage.

The authority stated that the main drivers depleting fisheries in Abu Dhabi include population growth, increased urbanization and coastal development, and illegal or unregulated fishing.

She said that this led to the deterioration of major habitats and affected the quality of marine waters, and its effects were reflected on the economy, food security and the environment in previous years, when the fishing resources in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi were subject to overexploitation, but the general trend became positive in 2019, thanks to measures such as the ban Seasonal restrictions on fishing gear sizes.

She stressed that aquaculture can help to address overfishing, but it also poses potential environmental challenges, such as the accumulation of organic waste on the sea floor, competition from alien species to local species, loss of landscapes as a result of aquaculture activities in the sea, and the potential depletion of resources Groundwater, as a result of the cultivation of aquatic organisms outside the sea.

• Penalties for violators amount to imprisonment for a period of no less than 3 months, and the confiscation of the boat and fishing equipment.

• 3164 licensed recreational fishermen in the emirate, most of whom are residents.

8 environmental challenges

The Environment Agency in Abu Dhabi identified eight environmental challenges, including the local effects of climate change, declining air quality, increased risks of respiratory diseases, deteriorating marine water quality, unsustainable use of groundwater, land pollution and soil degradation, inadequate waste infrastructure, and habitat loss. Its change and fragmentation, in addition to the overexploitation of fish.

She pointed out that addressing these challenges needs to ensure the availability of sound scientific data, which is a challenge in itself.

Follow our latest local and sports news and the latest political and economic developments via Google news