Coordinate policy to protect fisheries

On Thursday, about 3,000 tuna carcasses were found floating in waters near Dubai, believed to be a result of irresponsible fishing. The incident underlined a lack of appropriate fishing regulations, especially at a federal level, and problems with enforcement.

Over 60 per cent of fish caught in UAE waters are from species that are harvested beyond sustainable levels. The problem has been recognised by authorities for more than a decade. Regulations have been enacted and steps taken to protect stocks, especially of overfished species, but authorities have fallen short on enforcement. And in some cases, regulations have even been counterproductive.

The requirement that boats be owned and skippered by Emiratis has had unintended consequences. On the one hand, it has reduced fishing in some cases as boat owners do not choose to work as full-time fishermen (or send their sons, which is legally permissible). On the other hand, the rule has inclined other fishermen, especially in Abu Dhabi, to ignore the rules and send employees out, setting the stage for the ignoring of other rules.

Authorities should consider granting fishing permits to better regulate the industry. Fishermen must understand the purpose of regulations, and be stakeholders in the process, for regulations to work. It is in everyone's interest to preserve fish stocks.

If practices like dumping tuna are a result of lack of awareness, education and outreach are the answer. If it is sheer irresponsibility, that's where enforcement comes in.

The wasted tuna dumped dead into the water is a one-off example, but the greater problems facing fisheries need a coordinated approach. Cooperation at the national and regional levels is essential to regulate fishing licences, specify the type of permissible gear and fishing practices, and organise a long-term policy for the health of the Gulf and beyond.

At present, restrictive regulations in Abu Dhabi contrast with those in the Northern Emirates, where fishermen are given more leeway. Fisheries are a strategic national asset and should be regulated at a federal level. It is an issue that the Ministry of Environment and Water could work on as it meets today to discuss how to further regulate fishing activities.