Shura backs wider powers to update protected-species lists

TDT | Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

The Shura Council approved a draft law on Sunday that expands the Supreme Council for Environment’s power to update Bahrain’s protected-species annexes tied to international trade controls, and sent it onwards on an urgent basis.

The bill amends Article (3) of Law No. (5) of 2021 on regulating and monitoring international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora, accompanying Decree No. (57) of 2025.

It replaces item (13) so the Supreme Council for Environment may delete or add any species in the law’s annexes, rather than being limited to Annex (3) only.

Aim

Committee rapporteur Juma Al Kaabi said the aim is to let the Supreme Council for Environment “exercise its powers in a comprehensive manner to amend and update all annexes” that include Bahrain’s lists of protected species, with a focus on those most at risk of extinction.

He told the Council the law includes three annexes.

Annex (1) covers species threatened with extinction, where trade must be strictly controlled and specimens traded only in exceptional cases. Annex (2) covers species that are not necessarily threatened now but could become so if trade is not controlled. Annex (3) covers species that a party identifies as needing cooperation with other parties to control trade.

Shura Council member Jawad BuHussain said the amendment would give the Supreme Council for Environment “wider powers to update the lists of endangered species without the need to amend the law each time”.

He pointed to the houbara bustard, and quail when speaking about species subject to protection decisions.

Organisms

Dr Mohammed Ali Hasan, head of the Public Utilities and Environment Committee, said: “Man has tampered with those organisms and started trading in them,” as he explained why international rules were drawn up to protect wildlife from cross-border trade.

The Council said the bill would be sent to the Speaker of the Council of Representatives for referral to the Prime Minister, ahead of submission to His Majesty the King.

The draft text states that, once ratified and published in the Official Gazette, the amendment takes effect the day after publication, with implementation assigned to the Prime Minister and ministers in their areas of responsibility.