The Ministry of Environment and Water has announced that it has recently met with the Federal Authority for Land and Maritime Transport (NTA) at its Dubai Headquarters to discuss ways to regulate the use of leisure boats in the country. The session continued a series of meetings being held with all partners regarding the implementation of the legislation. The meeting is within the framework of the Ministry’s commitment to protect and develop the living aquatic resources, advance the fishing profession, and safeguard fishermen.
The session discussed the latest legislation governing the registration and sailing of leisure boats and re-examined the restrictions, controls and conditions for their use. This will contribute to the sustainability of local production and preserve the fishing profession as a national responsibility as well as one of the key priorities set by the UAE Vision 2021.
According to Sultan Abdullah Bin Alwan, Assistant Undersecretary for Water Resources and Nature Conservation at the Ministry of Environment and Water, enhancing the sustainability of living aquatic resources – particularly through regulating the fishing and related professions – is of utmost importance to the Ministry. The proper registration and sailing of leisure boats in the country and the identification and monitoring of their activities is one of the most important projects that will contribute to easing the pressure on the marine environment and supports the continuity of the fishing profession.
Bin Alwan said that the Ministry is keen to organize such meetings on a regular basis to regulate the working procedures as well as the sailing and registration of leisure boats since it has been brought to attention that the growing number of marine crafts is often used for hunting and fishing marine creatures. He emphasized the importance of cooperation and coordination with the NTA to achieve common goals regarding the protection of living aquatic resources in the country. The Committee is currently drafting the legislation which will be released after discussions with all concerned partners.
The meeting was attended by a number of officials from the Federal Authority for Land and Maritime Transport, including Hessa Al Malak, Executive Director of Shipping Agency; Hamid Karam Al Kaabi, Director of the National Transport Authority in the Eastern Region office; Abdulaziz Alsharhan, Chairman of the Department of Ports; and Mustafa Al Wazne, Specialist for Ports Centers. Salah Al Raisi, Director of Fisheries and Halima Issa, Biological Expert in Management of Fisheries represented the UAE Ministry of Environment and Water.