Prepared By:

Mackrel Fish School

Based on the policy of the government of United Arab Emirates , the ministry of Environment and water has given great deal to the fisheries sector and its protection , development in sustainable ways.

According to this policy the ministry has encouraged small fishermen and traditional fishery and to improve fishermen income and to serve as on of the important food sources.

Fisheries resources is one of the renewable resources, despite its exploitation since long time ago, it is continued to replenish year after another. The renewal of this resources is made through the following

• Spawning of fishes in certain and recruit large numbers of fingerlings.
• Fish growth gradually from year to another, and then gaining weight.

So, the ideal exploiting for fisheries resources can be done through capturing the excess number or weight of fishes out of the present stocks, which can be renewed without having harmful effect on the fish stock.

Worldwide , there are number of problems related to over fishing due to the increase of fishing effort, which led worldwide to over exploiting the fish stocks, and in some cases led to distinction of certain species or major decrease in total catch, making fishing operations not economically.

Based on the above mentioned problems, it was necessary for authorities to set number of regulation measures to ensure wise se of the fisheries resources and not to over exploit the fish stocks, these measures and regulations help in keeping the resources of all beneficial parties which include fishermen, companies and consumers.

The ministry has adopted two strategies to archive protection and suitability of the fisheries resources as follows:

• protection of fisheries resources, through conducting studies on how to exploit these resources, also to issue laws needed to regulate this industry and to avoid over fishing of the current fish stock. In addition to this, logging and collecting data on catch from different emirates and different fish types. Moreover, discussing fishermen problems and providing financial aid.
• Development of fishery stocks through production and release important commercial fish larvae and fingerlings in khors and marine protected areas. This help in re-stocking the present fishery.

There are number of measures which have been set to protect and sustain fisheries resources:

Fishing boats carrying Fishing Gears

• Abandon fishing of certain species in seasons (e.g. spawning seasons), this to give chance for fishes time to lay and fertilize eggs.
• Stop fishing of certain species from certain location known to be a spawning ground.
• Stop fishing small size fishes to give sometime for fishes to gain more weight.
• Stop using certain type of fishing gear which harm fish resources and stocks.
• Regulate fishing gear to achieve wise use.
• Determine catch and effort of fishing ( e.g. boat numbers and number of fishermen).

In UAE Ministry Environment and water is the responsible body (authority) for the fisheries sector. Many activities have been taken to regulate this industry, include the following.

Firstly

The ministry has important role in formulating federal law N0 23 /1999 which is considered the general law that regulate and control all activities related to fisheries.

Secondly

Great concern has been given to research related fisheries resources, this include :

• Establishment of of Marine Resources Research Center at UmmAl Quwain , where many studies are carried on fish biology and fish stocks. In addition to release of larvae and fingerlings of important commercial fishes in Khors and marine protected areas to improve fish stocks. Moreover, number of studies dealing with fish tools, gears, fish landing and other economical studies.
• Also, studies on length weight , spawning and maturity, ideal length for fish capture of important commercial fishes.

All the above contribute on assessing the fish stocks and obtaining much information about the current status, so suitable decision can be taken to regulate fisheries with cooperation with local authorities in ways to ensure wise use and sustainability of fish stocks.

Thirdly

Issuing number of ministerial decree to regulate fishing, that is include:

• determining the minimum size of fishes to be caught.
• Determining the minimum mesh size for Kar Kor and fishing nets.
• Banning nets mage of Nylon
• Banning trammel nets.

Fourthly

The ministry regulate and cooperate with fisheries communities of all different emirates which is formed based on Law ( 23/1999) in different subjects related to the use and exploitation of fisheries resources, this include fishing seasons, tools, number of allowed fishing boats, spawning seasons…..etc.

So, the ministry has a careful and will defined plan to exploit fisheries resources as mentioned above.

Establishment of Marine Resources Research Centre

This centre is considered one of the important centers in the Gulf region in field of fisheries, aquaculture in addition other fields such as those studies related to coastal and marine environment.

Aims of the centre

• To produce seeds of commercially important fishes and shrimps by artificial methods and grew them to marketable size.
• To train UAE nationals and fishermen to use aquaculture techniques to help similar activities in in the country.
• To conduct biological and hydrographical surveys and researches.
• To cooperate with similar regional and international organizations.
• Contributing in public awareness of the marine environment especially fisheries.
• Providing consulting services for public and private sector in fisheries and aquaculture.

SERVICES PROVIDED BY MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND WATER

The ministry of Environment and water provide the following services for fishermen:

- Registrations and licensing of fishing boats and fishermen, through number of offices located in different emirates.

- Fish larvae and fingerlings release of important commercial fishes in Khors and marine protected areas. This help in restocking these fish and ensure sustainability of fisheries.

- Financial aid for fishermen, through providing them outboard marine engine for their boats in reduced prices. This to aid them and encourage young generation to practice this job. Every effort was made to help full time fishermen who practice fishing by themselves. Second priority was given to small employees to encourage fishing practice jobs and improve their standard of living.

- Fixing and maintenance of fishing boats outboard

The ministry has established number of workshops through the country and staffed them with qualified personal and tools to fix and maintain outboards. Also, the ministry do not charge fishermen for these services, although the fishermen should provide the spear parts required.

- Fisheries guiding services

Tours in the Fish Markets

The fisheries extension sector provide services of guiding and advice for fishermen to ensure best practice activities, also provide fishermen with information about preserving and marketing of their fish. In addition, the extension held number of meetings with fishermen in their fishing locations to discuss their problems and to answer their inquiries.

- Fishermen training

The fisheries sector has began to provide training services for fishermen which is highly concerned of young youth who wish to practice fishing. This training with help to provide new generations of fishermen with good skills for sustainable fisheries.

- Consulting services for aquaculture business

Technical advices are provided for public and private sector in filed of aquaculture in UAE. Number of workshops and meetings for fishermen has been held around the country. This to ensure more awareness of the fishermen.

- Fisheries statistics

this provide fishing statistics to regulate the fishing industry in UAE.

- Regulate fish export

Fishing Ports

Regulate fish export of local fish and re-exported of foreign fish for license exporters.

- Co-operative Societies

Participation in Campaigns for Clean Marine Environment

The ministry encourage establishing fishing co-operative societies. It has been successful in forming eight societies around UAE, these help fishermen and regulate their work. In same time the ministry encourage these societies to form a union to exchange ideas and suggest regulations.

- Co-operation and co-ordination in local, national and international levels with authorities and organizations working in field of fisheries.

- participating in clean up campaigns around beaches and protected areas in UAE. This is also to emphasis on the importance of marine environment , the care and the protection from pollutant and destruction.

- carrying out number of ecological and biological studies on important commercial fishes, through studying length-weight relationship and maturity seasons in order to determine their spawning seasons and suitable age and length for first capture ( fishing).

These studies help to determine the status of fish stocks and decisions can be taken to regulate fishing to ensure sustainability of the resources.

Public awareness

The ministry also provide information relating to awareness of the importance of fisheries to different categories includes students, who attend training and lectures on fish and fisheries. Also, through visits to the museum and aquarium based in marine resources research station at Umm Al Quwain.

FUTURE PLANS OF MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND WATER FOR ACTIVITIES RELATED TO FISHERIES

Fisheries is vital resource for UAE, also it has to be protected and developed in ways to ensure sustainability for present and next generations.

Ministry future plans include the following:

• Increase the quantity of fish larvae released in Khors and protected areas to restock important commercial fishes. In addition, the ministry has future plans to enlarge and expand the hatcheries ( Larvae and fingerlings unites) facility in Marine Resources Research Centre at Umm Al Qwain , to be able release the largest number of fish fingerlings as mentioned above.
• On the other hand. The ministry has improved facilities and equipment of the Marine Resources Research Centre at Umm Al Qwain , to accomplish the above task, add to this currently all the marine center facilities were subject to general and maintenance program. This will help in increase production of fish larvae and fingerlings.
• Continue to study the biology of number of commercial fishes to determine spawning seasons and grounds.
• Fisheries department will work in intensifying the communication with fisheries related authorities in different emirates, to help in matters that increase fishing effort and finally led to sustainability of fish stocks.
• The ministry will support establishing marine protected areas in coordination with local authorities of different emirates. This is to relies the great importance of marine protected areas in protecting and developing fisheries resources. It is worth mentioning that Marine protected areas is considered on of the recent basis to develop fisheries resources in many countries around the world. For example, it is expected that Maorah El Bhar at Abu Dabi which established on bases to help recovery of environment balance of the marine environment and help in protecting and development of fisheries recourses. Also Ras Al Khor at Dubai is considered of importance birds and marine life in general.

Ser Boo Neer in Emirate Sharjah is one of the most important areas for Sherry. It is also observed that increase of number of marine organisms which live in Fattet protected area in Dibba Fujuhra Emirate.

• The ministry is giving great concern to privatize the marine workshops which are run by ministry to improve the services provided and to make it more efficient , this will have great positive impact on fishermen.
• The ministry will continue its effort ton educate and train fishermen and fisheries guides through organizing large number of training workshops in different emirates. Also to increase their awareness of the fisheries resources and bad practice of fishing activities and ensure delivering best practice guidelines.
• Continue to apply law 23/1999 and ensure enforcement of subjects related to development and protecting fisheries resources in sustainable ways.

NUMBER OF FISHERMEN AND BOATS

The positive developments that have been achieved till now are the results of continues effort made by the ministry and the UAE policy.

The policy of encouraging and financial aid has been successful in increasing the number of fishermen. Also it helped the fishermen to work in remote areas away from coastline and in deeper water due to ownership of strong outboards and cranes also the services of the fisheries 19 workshops distributed around UAE.

The pervious years has witnessed big increase in number of fishermen specially youths with total number of 3955 in 1976 to 14748 in year 2003. also the boat numbers increased dramatically from 1065 in year 1976 to 5052 in year 2003 with 67% increase due to the wise policy of the government.

TRAINING PROGRAMES

The ministry has adopted number of training programs to increase the efficiency of the fishermen and to follow the recent technological advances. Large number of training programs has been conducted for fishermen, fishery guides.

TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR EMPLOYEES

• Training of fish counters 3/3/2004 ( 14 employees)
• Training of fish counters in fish statistics from 13-14/6/2004 and 19-21/6/2004 ( 35 employees).
• Training of fish guides 9-13/10/2004 with cooperation of management institute ( 20 employees).

SEMINARS, LECTURES AND DISCUSSION HELD FOR FISHERMEN

• Fishermen Guidance Meeting

  training of fishermen in eastern region Dibba. ( 11 fishermen)
• second training for fishermen in Ras Al Khyma ( 40 fishermen).
• third training for fishermen in Abu dabi for El Hur Fishing Port ( 50 fishermen).
• number of lectures and discussion for fishermen held in Eastern region in Deba training center for Deba and Khor fakan ( 96 fishermen)
• 10 meeting s with fishermen around UAE about importance of protecting fisheries resources, and fishing best practice to save fish stocks with emphasis on the role of law enforcement ( 200 fishermen).
• number of lectures for Umm AL Quwain school students ( 30 students) with cooperation of Ahmed Ben Rashed school.
• guide talks with social development centre ( 58 persons) mainly mother to encourage youngsters to feed on fish meet as sources of food.
• lecture on fisheries in university of Emirates biology department faculty of sciences.
• lecture of marine environment on the Environment day festival in Ebrik basic school. ( 70 students)
• summer seminars for students during summer holiday ( 497) in subjects of aquaculture and protecting marine environments.
• participation in Emirates boat and lecturing youth about coral reefs and protected areas.

PROHIBITED FISHING GEAR

Due to the increase of number of fishermen during last 10 years as result of the ministry effort to encourage youth for practicing fishing, the ministry has set number of roles to ban harmful gear

• Neylon net
• Hayal net
• Brach net
• ttom hook lines
• Spearguns
• Explosives , chemicals and poison
• Light fishing