Bahrain cracks down on harmful fishing practices

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Say goodbye to nylon fishing nets — using them in Bahrain’s waters could now land you in serious trouble.

And that’s not all. If you’re fishing with nets, make sure the mesh has wider holes. The Supreme Council for Environment now bans any net with mesh smaller than two inches.

These new rules are part of a broader effort to protect marine life and ensure the long-term sustainability of Bahrain’s marine resources.

If you’re into fishing, here’s what else you need to know:

• Nets must not be longer than 800 metres.

• Don’t fish with nets within one nautical mile of the shore.

• Nets with floats are also off-limits.

• Even if everything else checks out, net fishing is banned between sundown and sunup.

Traditional Fish Traps (Hadhour)

The new regulations also cast a wider net, targeting traditional fish traps known locally as Hadhour (weirs). These are ageold structures set up in shallow coastal waters to guide fish into enclosures, especially effective during low tide.

You can still use them — but not if they’re made of nylon or plastic.

Here are the new Hadhour rules:

• Must be placed at least 10 metres from land.

• No two weirs can be placed closer than 500 metres apart.

• The mesh must have a hole diameter of at least 1.25 inches.

• They must not be set up within 500 metres of any sewage outflow.

Cages (Qarageer)

Cages, or Qarageer, are also under scrutiny. These must have minimum opening sizes of 1.5 inches for fish and 2.25 inches for crabs. Cages made of plastic, nylon, or wrapped iron frames are now banned.

Protection of Marine

Species And remember — if you catch a protected or at-risk species, it must be returned to the sea immediately.

The Council says these measures are about more than just rules — they’re about preserving Bahrain’s marine wealth for generations to come.