The Ministry of Environment and Water in collaboration with its partners recently held a meeting at the InterContinental Hotel – Dubai with representatives from the Cooperative Society, major shopping centers, and companies re-exporting fish products to explain the provisions of Ministerial Decision No. (501) for 2015. The decree prohibits the catching and selling of rabbitfish and emperor fish during their breeding season from March 1 to April 30 every year.
H.E. Engineer Mariam Mohammed Saeed Hareb, the Ministry’s Assistant Undersecretary for Water Resources and Nature Conservation Affairs, said: “Our fish Stocks are facing many challenges such as overfishing and overexploitation, leading to a severe decline in resources and a deficit in natural fish production. This has prompted the Ministry to issue the resolution aimed at protecting and promoting sustainable fish resources for the next generations.”
She added: “The Ministry released Ministerial Decision No. (501) for 2015 to promote food security, ensure sustainable local production, and save the marine environment to achieve sustainable levels of live marine resources. These essential goals and plans will help attain the objectives of UAE Vision 2021. Protecting rabbitfish and emperor fish, in particular, highlights their economic importance in the midst of challenges facing local production due to fishing activities even during their breeding season. If this practice is not regulated, we will see a decline in our resources with the destruction of fish eggs. Furthermore, the decision supports the fishing profession, promotes food security, and ensures the continuous reproduction and ample supply of fish species popular in the UAE.”
The decision bans the catching of rabbitfishes and emperor fishes from March 1 to April 30 of every year; if caught in violation, fishermen should release them again into the water and ensure their safety. Selling these types of fish species whether local or imported are also prohibited during the given period.
During the meeting, the attendees expressed readiness to comply with the ministerial decision. James Varghese,, LuLu Group’s Regional Manager, commended the resolution’s goal of protecting the fish species from extinction, while confirming LuLu Group’s unlimited support for the sustainability of fish stock. Yaqoub Al Baloushi, Manager of fresh purchase at Union Cooperative Society, thanked the Ministry for leading the efforts to save the country’s fish resources and ensure their sustainability for the current and future generations. Al Baloushi added that the Union Coop will hold an awareness workshops focusing on the resolution’s provisions.
Bravin Mishiri, Maya Group Representative, said: “This decision is considered an ideal initiative by the Ministry aimed at protecting our fish livestock as part of our social responsibility.”
The meeting looked into the inspection of targeted fish stores and markets, shopping centers, and companies involved in the exporting and re-importing of fish products. The attendees also discussed existing procedures, including ministerial directives, to be observed before and during the fishing ban. The procedures include regular visits by Ministry employees and local authorities to all fish stores and concerned companies to ensure that they live up to their commitment. They are also tasked to check all fish shipments. The authorities will either issue the required health certificates if the concerned groups pass the requirements or apply administrative sanctions if they fail to comply with the ministerial decision. The procedures outlined in Ministerial Decision No. (18) for 2012 on violations of regulatory decisions related with marine livestock state the corresponding sanctions. For first-time violators, a written warning will be issued along with the confiscation of small fish species. They will be fined AED 1,000 along with confiscation of their catch if it is their second time to breach the provisions. For the third offense, their boat license will be suspended for one week.
As for fish store owners who violate the existing provisions for the first time, they will receive a written warning along with confiscation of products; an AED 1,000 fine with confiscation for the second offense; and closure of their stores for one week in coordination with local authorities on the third violation.
Regarding the operators of vehicles used to transport fishes, first-time violators will receive a written warning along with confiscation of fishes; AED 1,000 fine with confiscation for repeat offenders; and an AED 3,000 fine with confiscation in coordination with local authorities for the third offense.