DAMMAM: The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture in the Eastern Province has warned fishermen against using shrimp nets to catch small species of fish, especially the “Sweifi” fish.
The breeding period for a number of key species continues for another six months, and fishing during this period is against the law as it severely depletes fish stocks in the Arabian Gulf.
Mubarak Al-Aridi, the acting director general of the ministry’s branch in the region, said that the ministry is committed to protecting fish stocks in the Kingdom’s waters. Managing stocks through sustainable exploitation, he added, is key to long-term sustainable development that supports the livelihoods of coastal communities.
He also said that specialists from the fisheries sector play an important role in raising awareness and guiding fishermen on taking into account the minimum length of fish (15 cm) before they can be caught during field visits that extend from Khafji in the north to Salwa in the south.
Fishing violations have decreased in recent months, thanks in part to cooperation between the fishermen and local authorities.
