The Ministry of Environment and Water has revealed that six shops selling gargoors (traditional cage fish traps) and fishing equipment in Ajman and Sharjah have violated the provisions of Federal Law No. (23) of the year 1999, which covers the exploitation, protection and development of the UAE’s living aquatic resources. The discovery was made after the Ministry’s External Audit Sector conducted a series of inspections across the country in coordination with concerned local authorities. The audit was done in compliance with a federal legislation governing the preservation of the country’s environment and natural resources for environmental sustainability. The campaign was also in line with the UAE Government’s objective of establishing a fully integrated infrastructure relevant to environmental legislation and its enforcement.

Ministry’s External Audit Sector, the violators have committed irregularities and showed lack of commitment to adhere to the federal legislation’s specifications on the allowed fishing equipment. H.E. Al-Shara added that the Ministry will continuously monitor the strict implementation and compliance with the existing legislations concerning the fishing profession. The Ministry is also developing new laws, legislations and regulations to ensure consistent promotion of environmental sustainability and protection of living aquatic resources.

 H.E. Al-Shara said one of the irregularities discovered were the failure to comply with the permitted trading equipment and fishing tools as specified by Federal Law No. (23) of the year 1999. As for gargoors, the violators failed to adhere to the specifications put in place by the Ministerial Resolution No. (706) for the year 2013 on the regulation of manufacturing, importing and use of gargoors. The violators have been turned over to judicial authorities in cooperation and coordination with local authorities for necessary legal procedures.

 Moreover, he assured that the Ministry will continuously hold periodic awareness workshops for all stakeholders in cooperation with the local authorities in charge of inspection and control of various shops to ensure understanding and strict compliance of the existing legislations and Ministry-issued regulations. In addition, field inspections will be conducted regularly to update stakeholders on new guidelines and techniques. The resolutions issued by the Ministry will be published on its website and media channels and posted to social media accounts--starting a new phase of auditing and verifying compliance with existing legislations and the sanctioning of penalties for those to have been found in violation of these rules.

 H.E. Al-Shara said the Ministry remains steadfast in its duty to conduct audits in collaboration with local authorities as its strategic partners to ensure environmental sustainability. The Ministry will also regularly assess the mechanisms put in place to ensure compliance with the legislations. Environmental sustainability is one of the Ministry’s strategic objectives and a key element of UAE Vision 2021.