Undersecretary meets with representatives of Bahraini fishermen

Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Undersecretary for municipal and agrarian affairs Dr. Nabeel bin Mohammed Abul-Fateh praised the role and contribution of Bahraini fishermen who provide seafood which is one of the most important sources of nutrition and preserve this ancient vocation which is deemed one of Bahrain's traditional vocations and reiterated the government's commitment to developing and welfare of fisheries and fishermen as part of the government's action program led by HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa the Prime Minister. These remarks were made by Dr. Nabeel Mohammed Abul-Fateh as he met with representatives of fishermen and the relevant official departments in the Ministry premises today and discussed with them the issue of seasonal banning of shrimp fishing, in the presence of Manama Municipality's general director Shaikh Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Khalifa. During the meeting, the Ministry of Municipalities and Urban Planning Undersecretary for agrarian affairs Dr. Nabeel Mohammed Abul-Fateh, welcomed the chairman and members of the Bahraini Fishermen's Society and praised the faithful efforts being exerted by the chairman and members of the society in serving this important economic sector in the Kingdom of Bahrain and reiterated that in compliance with the directives of HM the King's Personal Representative and the Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Wealth, the Environment and Wildlife president HH Shaikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa alongside with persistent follow up on the part of Municipalities and Urban Planning Minister Dr. Jum'a bin Ahmed Al-K'abi in association with the Society seek to serve the best national and public interest of the Kingdom of Bahrain and to develop this profession on which depend a large number of Bahraini citizens and let it flourish and prosper. In the beginning of the meeting, the Ministry of Municipalities and Urban Planning undersecretary Dr. Abul-Fateh asserted the need for follow up and coordination with the relevant bodies in order to solve all problems pertaining to the period of banning shrimp fishing, citing existing coordination with the competent authorities in order to reach a drastic solution to all obstacles, and asserted the need for compliance by fishermen with the said period of banning shrimp fishing. On the other hand, the Manama Municipality's general director Shaikh Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Khalifa revealed that municipal inspectors have been assigned the task of follow up violations by fishermen who defiantly continue to sell shrimp in the Central Market of Manama during the shrimp banning season. Fishermen representatives discussed safety issues, and the conservation of this sector of fisheries and at the same time praised the efforts exerted by the Ministry of Municipalities and Urban Planning in coordinating with the General Directorate of Fisheries Resources and their remarkable interest in increasing fish stocks specifically shrimp. The seasonal shrimp fishing ban period starts on 15 March until 15 July each and every year. (IY)