Head of the Fisheries Department in the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, Halima Al Jasmi, reported that the ministry provided marine engines with eco-friendly costs at half the cost, for 400 citizen fishermen, adding that the engines have fewer carbon emissions and provide fuel consumption of more than 50%.
Al Jasmi indicated that priority should be given to distributing engines to full-time fishermen who practice the profession on their own boats or on behalf of their children, in order to encourage them to work in this profession, and to ensure their continued transmission to future generations.
She stated that the type of engines obtained by the fishermen through the registration centers for fishing boats, distributed in all regions of the country, are "Mercury" with a power of 150 horses, indicating that "the fisherman's entitlement to support every three years, ensures that the largest possible number of fishermen benefit from what the ministry provides to them ».
Al-Jasmi pointed out that the fishermen support is based on the Ministry's keenness to highlight the economic and social importance of the fisheries sector, and a contribution to reducing costs for fishermen, and support the fishing profession in order to enhance food safety and the sustainability of local production.
She added that the criteria and conditions for disbursing the engines supported for this year are that the total salary or pension of the fisherman does not exceed 30,000 dirhams (according to an approved salary certificate), and that the fisherman has not received support for a marine engine during the years 2016-2018, and that the fisherman must be the applicant In the Ministry's general record was before 2016, in addition to the hunter being a permanent practitioner of the fishing profession, and finally that he had not committed a violation (possession or use of prohibited fishing gear and equipment in accordance with the regulatory legislation) during the past year.
The fisherman, Mohammed Jumaa, from the city of Khor Fakkan, which is part of the Emirate of Sharjah, stressed that supporting marine engines reduces the financial burdens and costs for fishermen, especially related to fuel consumption, noting the role of these initiatives in encouraging citizen fishermen to adhere to the profession of parents, despite the challenges facing them .
The fisherman Abdullah Mohammed Al-Naqbi said that the new engines save 50% of fuel consumption, which reduces the financial burden, especially when traveling long distances, adding that some companies sell engines at inflated prices starting from 25 to 60 thousand dirhams.