The head of the Cooperative Federation of Fishermen’s Societies in the country, Suleiman Al-Khadim Al-Antali, revealed the decision of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment to allow fishermen to waive their boat license, provided that the other party is a citizen of the same emirate.
He stated that members of the federation recently met the Minister of Climate Change and Environment, Dr. Maryam Al Muhairi, and she confirmed her keenness to support the sector and respond to the demands identified by the fishermen during a meeting they held with the ministry’s work team, during his visit to the Council of the Fishermen’s Association in Dibba Al Fujairah, to find out about the challenges that faced hinder their work.
The fishermen had made proposals that would contribute to enhancing the role of citizens in the fishing profession, and prevent them from leaving or dispensing with them.
Al-Khadim affirmed the adoption of the requirement to allow fishermen to fish nets “hedge and barber” from November 1 to May 31, taking into account the specifics of each emirate, given that the method of fishing with nets contributes to increasing the income of the fisherman.
The ministry also allowed the sale and assignment of the boat license to any person, provided that he is a citizen of the same emirate. The previous condition for the sale was that the buyer be a relative.
He added that the ministry exempted the elderly from the medical examination certificate when applying for the “Deputy Nokhza Citizen” card.
It also committed to maintaining some fishing ports, which need maintenance services, according to priority, and exempted fishermen from the fees of the tracking device that is installed on the boat on fishing trips, in coordination with the concerned authorities. And it allowed to extend the period of holding a fisherman’s license, when he cancels it, from six months to a year, allowing him to buy a boat and a new license within a year.
The ministry has committed itself to supporting the local fishermen who have applied for fish farming, by training them, and by providing them with all forms of support required, noting the minister’s care, focus and keenness to discuss the concerns of the fishermen, and the challenges of the fishing sector in general in the country.
He pointed to the agreement with the minister to discuss other fishermen’s demands during the coming period, to address them.
Al-Khadim stressed the importance of continuing basic support for marine engines, with allocating an amount to support oil, diesel, gargoyles and cages for fish farming, noting that the support encourages young fishermen to continue in the profession.
He added that the ministry decided to organize periodic meetings with fishermen, which will have a positive impact on them.
The demands of the fishermen were to invest in fishing with nets (hedge and barber) from the beginning of November to the 30th of June, to increase the income of the fisherman, in addition to increasing the bottom fish, and setting up a mechanism to increase the fish stock, and allowing the fishermen with cruisers to catch sharks, according to the regulation of this method by the Ministry .
The demands also included not limiting the sale of the license and the boat, and waiving them, to relatives, and allowing fishermen to issue a deputy “Nokhuda” card without requesting a medical certificate for the citizen who owns the boat, and conducting a study to find new fishing methods that contribute to raising the fisherman’s income, in addition to the necessity of having evidence A guideline from the Ministry, which helps introduce fishermen to the fertilization and breeding season and endangered fish, and to support the fishermen’s engines on an ongoing basis.
The demands also included submitting a memorandum to the “Protection of Facilities and Coasts” regarding the exemption of fishermen from fees for maintaining the device, and the exit of fishermen and sons of fishermen from the first to fourth degree through identification.
• «The Ministry exempted the elderly from the medical examination certificate when applying for a deputy citizen’s deputy card».
• “The fishermen have submitted proposals to the Ministry that contribute to strengthening the role of citizens in the fishing profession.”
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