UMM AL QUWAIN // Fishing in the creek will resume today as the annual four-month ban to help preserve stocks comes to an end.
Hussein Al Hajri, president of the UAQ Fishermen's Association, said the ban from March to the end of June - intended to stop people from catching adolescent fish - had yielded positive results, with a 100 per cent increase in the creek's fish stocks.
"There are about 300 Emirati fishermen who are entitled to fish in the creek and during the four-month ban they are expected to go and fish in the wider sea," he said.
Mr Al Hajri said the idea of the ban came about after a study showed most species that live in the area spawned between March and June. The study was sponsored by the Government of UAQ out of concern to preserve the fishing industry.
This year's ban has been strictly observed and police did not have to be called to seize any nets or other equipment from fishermen as punishment, Mr Al Hajri said.
Sheikh Saud bin Rashid, the Ruler of UAQ, ordered in May that a 72-berth port be built at the creek.
The development will replace the old fishermen's marina that was in urgent need of repair and in danger of collapsing in some places after 35 years of use.
The emirate's department of planning and surveying has also allocated land near the new port and the fish market to build an ice factory to store catches brought home by the fishing fleet.
