The Environment Agency in Abu Dhabi issued 4,181 recreational fishing licenses during the past year, indicating a significant increase in recreational fishing licenses, as the number of licenses issued from June to October of last year reached 2,837 licenses, compared to 1,240 licenses during the same period in 2022. This supports recreational fishing activities and enhances marine fishing sports in the emirate, while 291 licenses were issued for commercial fishing, 60 licenses for diffara fisheries, and 60 licenses for Al Hadhara fishing equipment.
The Authority stated that it has established a regulation, the first of its kind in the region, to impose restrictions on the fishing of 24 species of commercially important fish, while regulating recreational fisheries in Abu Dhabi, pointing out that it prohibits this as the environmental authority competent to regulate and protect the environment in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, where The decision prohibited the practice of recreational fishing and the organization of marine fishing competitions in the emirate’s fishing waters without obtaining a permit from the Authority.
The Authority confirmed its requirement that recreational fishing be practiced either on foot or using pleasure boats, explaining that recreational fishing equipment includes line and hook or sea fishing rifles while practicing free diving (live diving), or by any other method it determines, while organizing marine fishing competitions is limited to waters. Fishing for the Emirate applies to legal persons working in the field of marine activities.
She pointed out that the conditions for obtaining a recreational fishing license stipulate that the applicant must not be less than 18 years old, and those younger than that are allowed to accompany an adult who has a valid recreational fishing license. An application must be submitted to the authority according to the form prepared for that, accompanied by the necessary documents. To request a license, via the “Tamm” electronic platform for government services, including the annual license and the weekly license.
The Authority stressed that the recreational fishing license or marine fishing competitions permit must not be used by anyone other than a licensed person, and fish or live aquatic resources caught while sailing must not be disposed of until returning to land or arriving at the berth or landing area. Selling them, in addition to not catching or keeping live aquatic resources or part of them for ornamental purposes.
Regarding the types and quantities allowed for recreational fishing, Abu Dhabi Environment confirmed that the decision of the Chairman of the Authority’s Board of Directors regarding the regulation of recreational fishing in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi stressed the need to take into account what was stated in the ministerial decision regarding preventing the catching, selling and marketing of small sizes of fish, whose length is less than The permissible limit, and any relevant legislation that permits the fishing of fish at the permissible lengths and seasons, and adherence to the catch quantities allowed to be caught per day are 24 species of fish per person and per pleasure boat, according to the list attached to the decision.
Prohibitions
The Environment Agency in Abu Dhabi confirmed that the decision of the Chairman of the Board of Directors regarding the regulation of recreational fishing in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi prohibits catching, trading, keeping, or causing harm to any of the types of living aquatic wealth specified in the decision, which includes brush fish, “yellow echinino,” and red coral. , seahorse fish, parrot fish (coin), sharks and rays of all kinds, sea turtles, whales, dolphins, dugongs and coral reefs.
. Obtaining a recreational fishing license requires that the applicant be at least 18 years old.
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