Sheikha Al-Ibrahim, Director of Public Relations and Media Department of the Environment Public Authority says the EPA continues its efforts to regulate fishing in the Kuwait Bay, and disclosed, “200 licenses for the boat are issued daily to enter the Bay at an average of about 6,000 per month.”
Sheikha Al-Ibrahim Al-Rai, each boat has the right to enter 10 times per month.” She stated each boat has to pay a 5 dinars fee each time it enters the Bay to fish, while there are no specific times or dates to prevent fishing in this area.
She spoke of joint cooperation between the EPA and the support it gets from the Coast Guard affiliated to the Ministry of Interior, the Environment Police, and the Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources regarding which help in periodic monitoring of the bays, and to keep a tap on infringements if any, that may occur.
She stressed “The use of traditional fishing is permanently prohibited inside Kuwait’s territorial waters. The traditional fishing is permitted in designated areas in environmentally friendly areas in direct coordination between PAAAFR and the EPA.”
Al-Ibrahim pointed out that it is prohibited to hunt, kill, catch, collect, harm, possess or transport wild and marine organisms, whether live or dead or harm the young, eggs, nests, or habitats of these organisms, in accordance with Article 100 of the Environmental Protection Law.
Violations and penalties
1 – Violation of Article 108 of the Environmental Protection Law, which prohibits any environmentally harmful activity in Kuwait Bay carries a penalty of imprisonment for a period of no less than one year and not exceeding three years, and a fine of no less than 5,000 dinars and not more than 50,000 dinars, or one of these two penalties.
2 – Violation of the provision of the first paragraph of Article 100 of the Environmental Protection Law: imprisonment not exceeding one year and a fine of not less than 500 dinars and not more than 5,000 dinars, or either of these two penalties, with the confiscation of the seized wildlife, as well as the tools used.
3 – Whoever does not have a hunting license and practices hunting in the bay shall be fined 1,000 dinars, and the tools and the catch will be confiscated.
Kuwait Bay fishing license is issued for 4 categories:
1 – Persons who are allowed to fish through the EPA link, provided that the license is in the name of the owner of the boat only.
2 – The presence of the owner of the boat during the fishing period.
3 – The licenses issued are only for pleasure fishing, not for trade.
4 – Determining the means and equipment used for fishing in Kuwait Bay (the hook or the line only).
