Shrimp ban starts in Saudi Arabia ... and here’s the catch

A view of NAQUA - a fully integrated shrimp farm in Saudi Arabia. (Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture)

• The ministry called on fishermen to comply with fishing regulations to protect what it described as an important economic resource
• Shrimp fishing is an important economic activity, with a 30 kg box of shrimp valued at SR500

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s annual six-month ban on shrimp fishing on the Gulf coast begins on Saturday, with hefty fines for fishermen who ignore the restrictions.
The ban allows shrimp species to reproduce, conserves stocks and guards against overfishing, according to the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture.
The ministry called on fishermen to comply with fishing regulations to protect what it described as an important economic resource.
Fishermen breaching the ban face fines of up SR10,000 ($2,700).
Shrimp fishing is an important economic activity, with a 30 kg box of shrimp valued at SR500, medium-sized shrimp between SR600-800 and large varieties worth more than SR1,100 per box.
The ban ends in the last week of July when most fishermen will begin preparations for the season.
The Kingdom is on course to increase its farmed shrimp output as part of an ambitious aquaculture development program.
Ali Al-Shaikihi, CEO of the National Fisheries Development Program, told Arab News that the ministry has instituted a Vision 2030 plan to develop local markets and products, improve infrastructure to support aquaculture such as hatcheries and feed mills, and introduce R&D programs to increase productivity.
The program is working with the private sector to achieve a total aquaculture production target of 600,000 tons by 2030 with a budget of SR1.3 billion through to 2021-22.