New Fishing Law takes effect today

TDT | Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain’s new Fishing Law takes effect today, requiring the presence of a Bahraini fisherman on all vessels engaged in commercial sea fishing.

The legislation also links crew sizes to vessel length and imposes fines and jail terms for violations.

Licence

To secure a fisherman’s licence, the applicant must be Bahraini, aged 18 or over, fit to work at sea, and free of any prior conviction for a felony or a misdemeanour involving dishonour or breach of trust unless legally rehabilitated.

The licence must show the fisherman’s details and the employer’s details. The fisherman may not work for any employer other than the one named on the licence.

The licence is personal, cannot be transferred or assigned, must be shown to the competent authorities on request, runs for one year, and may be renewed on the same terms.

Offence

Penalties vary by offence. Breaching key provisions carries imprisonment of not less than one month and not more than six months, with fines from BD1,000 to BD5,000.

Other articles allow up to one month’s imprisonment and fines between BD300 and BD1,000. Lesser breaches carry up to 15 days’ imprisonment and fines from BD100 to BD300.

Fine

If an offence is repeated within one year, the fine is doubled.

Each fishing vessel must have a Bahraini Naukhatha (Ship Captain), the skipper and employer of record. Boats 18 to 21 feet long may carry up to three crew in addition to the naukhtha. Those 22 to 24 feet may carry four people, of whom three must be Bahraini.