PAAAFR to do away with 35-year-old restriction on shrimp fishing

Aim to break door of fishing monopoly

KUWAIT CITY, Feb 1: The Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) is in the process of opening the door for issuing fishing and shrimp licenses within the next few weeks which will put an end to the 35-year-old restriction on shrimp fishing, reports

Al-Qabas daily.

After a 35-year ban on permits for fishing and shrimp, Al-Qabas learned that PAAAFR is about to open the issue of issuing fishing and shrimp licenses within the next few weeks, according to new regulations, to break the 35-year-old restrictions imposed on the issuance of such licenses.

The sources indicated that this decision aims to break the door of monopoly of fishing especially shrimps in the country, after categories of owners of fishing licenses control the offered quantities of fish and their prices.

The sources pointed out that the decision to be taken soon will contribute to lowering fish and shrimp prices in the local market, in addition to reducing the depletion of the local food stock of fish and maintaining it.

The Agricultural Authority had imposed a ban on licenses for “fiberglass” fishing vessels operating in Kuwaiti territorial waters, whatever their type, with the aim of preserving fish stocks in regional waters from overfishing.

In the same context, the sources in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry confirmed that the ministry has no objection to issuing any type of commercial licenses as long as the relevant authority and the activity oversee the permits.