The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment announced that the country’s fishing boat registration centers will start receiving fishermen’s orders for 100 hp marine engines from June 19 to July 21, 2016. The engines are being offered by the ministry to highlight the economic and social importance of the fishing industry to the country, to reduce fishermen’s expenses and to support the fishing industry’s role in promoting food safety and the sustainability of local production.
Shaikha Ahmed Salem Al Ali, Head of Customer Happiness Office at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, emphasized the Ministry’s commitment towards enhancing environmental sustainability through its various initiatives, projects and services which are implemented in accordance to the highest standards of quality, efficiency and transparency. He added that marine wealth is considered a chief renewable natural resource which contributes greatly to the country’s food supply.
Al Ali pointed out that the Ministry has outlined a set of guidelines to prioritize the distribution of the engines. Essential requirements include that the gross salary of the fisherman does not exceed AED 30,000 (as per a salary certificate), that the fisherman did not receive any marine engine support between 2013 and 2015, that the fisherman, or applicant, is enlisted in the Ministry’s public register prior to 2013, and that the number of recorded fishing trips from June 1 2015 to 31 May 2016 is not less than 40.
The Ministry also said that the engine will be installed on the applicant’s own fishing boat by the supplier company within 10 days after the fisherman makes full payment. The company will install the engine free of charge and will not charge for labor and additional parts such as batteries and driving wheel. The fisherman is given a one-month period, from the date of approval, to pay for the engine or else the request is canceled. In addition, the fisherman must update the engine data in the Ministry’s public register within two weeks from date of installation.