H.E. Dr. Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahad, UAE Minister of Environment and Water, stated that the UAE Ministry of Environment and Water has decided to exempt fishermen from all service fees of all services provided to them as starting from April 1, 2014. The move is in line with the Cabinet resolution regarding fees for services provided by the Ministry.

He further stated that the initiative is part of the Ministry’s strategy to support food security and sustainability of local income as well as preserving and breeding marine species. It is considered one of the most important strategic goals of the Ministry and an essential element to manifest the UAE Vision 2021.

Bin Fahad pointed that the Cabinet’s resolution responds to the directives of the UAE’s wise leadership regarding the significance of supporting fishermen and facilitating the services provided to them in order to encourage them to continue their profession in fishing. He said that the Ministry is keen to support and improve the country’s fishermen community, reduce their operating costs and burden, and conduct procedures and arrangements that comply with the public interest and insure the sustainability of natural marine resources for the future generations.

The fishermen has been exempted from fees for all the services provided to them, including registration and negation fees, issuing and renewing permits of fishing boats, nokhitha, nokhitha deputy and labor, fees of authenticating sell contracts, and registering and negating mortgage on fishing boats.