Shorouk Awad (Dubai)
The latest statistics issued by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment showed that the total number of licensed fishing boats in the country until the end of 2021 reached 5775 fishing boats, including 5,443 fishing boats and 332 fishing boats. With 1,429 fishing boats, Ras Al Khaimah came second with 1,267 fishing boats, Fujairah came third with 853 fishing boats, Dubai came fourth with 801 fishing boats, Abu Dhabi came in fifth place with 677 fishing boats, and Umm Emirate Al Quwain ranked sixth with 428 fishing boats, and the Emirate of Ajman ranked seventh with 320 fishing boats.
The ministry’s statistics also showed that the Emirate of Sharjah ranked first out of the total number of fishing cruisers licensed in the country with 1,316 fishing cruisers, followed by the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah in the second place with 1,250 fishing cruisers, the Emirate of Fujairah in the third place with 844 fishing cruisers, and the Emirate of Dubai in fourth place with 710 Fishing cruisers, the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in the fifth place with 667 fishing cruisers, the Emirate of Umm Al Quwain in the sixth place with 394 fishing cruisers, and the Emirate of Ajman in the seventh place with 262 fishing cruisers.
The statistics also pointed out that the Emirate of Sharjah ranked first out of the total number of licensed fishing boats in the country with 113 fishing boats, followed by Dubai in second place with 91 fishing boats, Ajman in third place with 58 fishing boats, and Umm Al Quwain in fourth place The Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah ranked fifth with 17 fishing boats, the Emirate of Abu Dhabi ranked sixth with 10 fishing boats, and the Emirate of Fujairah ranked seventh with 9 fishing boats.
The ministry attributed the reason for the increase in the total number of licensed fishing cruisers in the country to the desire of fishermen to acquire them, due to the low cost of operating them compared to large fishing boats that consume larger amounts of fuel and require large amounts of maintenance, in addition to the need for a large number of workers.
sector support
The Ministry confirmed that as part of its strategy to support the fishing sector, enhance local fish production, maintain the sustainability of the profession that is linked to the culture and heritage of the Emirati society, and promote entrepreneurship in the field of fishing, it issued Resolution No. In order to direct the registration of new fishermen in the general register of the ministry, and as a re-evaluation of the temporary suspension of the issuance of fishing boat licenses that was approved years ago, and was misused, which created a parallel market with exaggerated financial values for the sale of boat licenses.
valuation of licenses
The Ministry stressed that it will continue, in coordination with the competent local authorities, to evaluate the fishing licenses that actually exist, to determine the extent of their effectiveness and the practice of fishing by the holders themselves, which represents a major economic income for them, and their commitment to the systems, mechanisms and requirements of fishing approved by the Ministry and local authorities, to determine the licenses to be suspended and canceled To ensure a balance between the number of new licenses to be issued and actually operating, in a manner that enhances the economic growth of the sector, and maintains the sustainability of the local marine environment and its fish stocks.
She pointed out the contribution of the decision to enhancing the commitment of fishermen to sustainable practices, through their commitment to specific regulations and requirements and by intensifying oversight, in coordination and cooperation between the relevant federal and local authorities. It will have an economic return and will contribute to revitalizing the areas related to the fishing industry, such as marketing and manufacturing.
fuel subsidy
The Ministry affirmed its endeavor to protect and develop fisheries wealth by taking several measures and measures, including landing environmentally friendly industrial caves that contribute to the reproduction of fish, in addition to coral farming and fixing it in the affected areas in order to attract fish and increase their numbers, thus positively affecting the stock and fish diversity in the region and many others. One of the measures, pointing to the provision of fuel support to 478 fishermen during the current year 2022, in order to contribute to helping them confront the current rise in fuel prices and reduce operational costs, pointing to the design of a “points system” to identify qualified candidates to receive support and to identify those with the highest priority. Points in the evaluation, where points will be allocated to fishermen based on a number of criteria such as their total income, whether they have previously obtained subsidized marine engines, the date they obtained these engines, the date of registration of fishing boats in the Ministry’s records, the level of frequency of fishing practice and others.
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