Fishermen protest over licence reduction plan which will push their families to poverty
About 30 fishermen staged a protest at Muharraq Port over a proposal by the lawmakers to reduce the number of fishing licences per person from three to one.
The protesting fishermen said their lives will be pushed into poverty if the proposal becomes a law.
The law proposed by MPs aims at Bahrainising the fishing sector while protecting the marine resources of the Kingdom. “We make BD750 by leasing out three licences a month, ie BD250 per licence.
If the number of fishing licences is reduced our income will be limited to BD250 a month. How do you expect a family to survive with that money?” a fisherman, who doesn’t want to be named, told Tribune.
The current law authorises the fishermen to lease out their licences, which, according to MPs, has only benefitted expats.
The draft law presented by the Utilities Committee of the House of Representatives calls for a fine of BD5,000 if any fisherman is found leasing out his licence.
However, there is no ban on recruiting foreign workers for fishing. Speaking to Tribune, MP Jamal Buhassan said the draft law will be approved by the council in its next session.
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