Abu Dhabi fines fishermen for illegal fishing using nylon nets

The Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) fined a group of fishermen after being caught using nylon fishing nets at a coast in the emirate.

The EAD urged all fishermen to abide by laws to protect marine life and ensure the sustainability of fisheries, stressing the need to adhere to fisheries laws.

The EAD board of directors’ resolution no. 4 for 2023 previously stipulated that recreational fishing is permitted for pedestrians or on leisure boats, it said, adding that recreational fishing equipment includes lines and hooks, underwater fishing rifles for free diving or any other method determined by the EAD.

Organising marine fishing competitions in fishing waters is limited to legal persons working in the field of marine activities, it said.

The resolution includes the conditions for obtaining a recreational fishing licence. It stipulates that the applicant must be no less than 18 years old but applicants under this age are permitted to accompany an adult holding a valid recreational fishing licence.

An application must be submitted to the EAD using the designated form along with the necessary documents via the Tamm electronic platform for government services.

Licensees must comply with the terms and conditions specified by the EAD in the fishing licence or marine fishing competition permit in terms of the number of people, number of trips, fishing locations, types and numbers of fish and aquatic living resources permitted to be caught, environmental, health and safety requirements, etc.

The internationally recognized diving flag must be displayed when using a sea shotgun, while at least three people (a driver and two recreational sea shotgun fishing licence holders) must be on board the boat while fishing with a sea shotgun.

Other conditions include submitting a report detailing the types and quantities of fish and aquatic living resources caught to the EAD after completing the fishing trip using the means specified by the EAD.

They also include presenting a recreational fishing licence or a marine fishing competition permit upon request by EAD employees or the competent authorities. A valid internationally accredited free diving licence for fishing with marine hunting rifles must be presented upon request by EAD employees or the competent authorities.

A recreational fishing licence or a marine fishing competition permit may not be used by anyone other than the licensee. Fish or aquatic living resources caught while sailing may not be disposed of or sold until the boat returns to land or reaches the landing area. Aquatic living resources, or any part thereof, may not be caught or kept for ornamental purposes.

As far as the types and quantities permitted in recreational fishing are concerned, the resolution stated that the ministerial resolution no. 580 for 2015 must be taken into account with respect to prohibiting fishing, selling and marketing small sizes of fish.