Captains stop work over decree

More than 200 fishing- boat captains have stopped working at the ports of Fujairah and Al Bidyah after a decree was issued by the Ministry of Environment and Water halting the issue of new licences for vice captains.

Licences are now only available if the applicant is the captain’s heir, if the captain is over 60, or if the captain is ill.

Fujairah fishermen criticised the decree, which they said was unrealistic and disregards the difficulties they face.

They also criticised a ministry decree concerning the regulation, manufacture, import and use of fish traps known as garagir, and a decree that specifies the requirements of fishing nets. Mahmoud Abdulah Al Sharaa, the head of Fujairah Fishermen’s Association, said that of 250 vice captains registered with the association, 200 had stopped working after the ministry refused to renew their licences.

He said the decree discouraged Emiratis from becoming fishermen and that the industry would be paralysed by the decision. Fishermen in Sharjah have called on authorities to regulate vice-captain’s licences, noting that loopholes allow some people to hold two licences, for captain and vice captain, which makes for unfair competition and exhausts fish stocks.

The ministry said it was keen to regulate fishing and ensure all fishermen were treated equally.