The Agriculture Ministry of Abu Dhabi has told fishermen to cooperate with its efforts to protect fish resources and the ocean environment by sticking to established regulations, officials said.
Agriculture Minister Said Al-Rackbani said the ministry explained to fishermen the importance of following the established rules and regulations to preserve the sea environment and its fish.
According to the rules, fishermen must register the tools used in fishing expeditions. Fishing boats and fishermen must be registered with the ministry, to prevent them from exceeding their fishing quotas. Other rules and regulations apply to the environment.
To ensure compliance, the ministry has formed a committee to supervise the fishing industry in Abu Dhabi. The committee is responsible for checking boats for any engine or fishing equipment defects that might harm the environment. The committee is also responsible for enforcing the no-fishing seasons and to ensure that small, undersized fish are not being caught. The fishing industry is a large one. Ministry records show that between May and September alone, 290 boats, 527 fishermen, and 100 scales were registered with the ministry.
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