Sheri, Safi fish return to UAE markets after 2-month ban

Dubai - The embargo period ended without violations and 100 per cent commitment in all markets and outlets.

Popular fish Sheri and Safi will return to the UAE markets after a two-month break from May 1.
The ban was implemented according to the federal laws and regulations governing the exploitation of living marine resources and prevent their depletion.
"As the competent authority in Dubai, the Dubai Municipality enforces the Ministerial Decree No. 501 of 2015 on the regulation of fishing and marketing of Sheri and Safi in the breeding season from March 1 to April 30 of every year," said Alia Al Harmoudi, director of environment department at the Dubai Municipality.
She also expressed her thanks and appreciation to the fishermen and fish sellers who have shown commitment during the embargo period, which ended without violations and 100 per cent commitment in all markets and outlets.
"This is a sign of their keenness to preserve the fish resources and prevent its depletion. The aim of the ban seemed clear to them as they were keen to implement the decree not out of fear of violations, but in order to increase the stock of fish of these two species to benefit them after the embargo season," said Al Harmoudi.
She said the environment department worked closely with the parties concerned in the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MoCCAE) to implement the control and inspection plan on fish markets and outlets. "We did not record any violations during the embargo period in the fish markets, shopping malls and fish landing sites in Dubai, which are monitored by the environment department."
Aisha Al Murr Al Muhairi, head of natural resources protection section added that the inspection times during the embargo period in March and April coincided with the timings of landing in ports and fish markets during the morning and evening periods.
"They were inspected over the weekend when the display of fish is more compared to the rest days the week," she said. "A detailed report on the percentage of compliance of the establishments will be submitted to the ministry as it is the national focal point in this decree," said Al Muhairi.
Awareness campaigns
"A number of posters were distributed that showed the types of fishes that were banned from catching and marketing. Fishermen and fish sellers were also distributed with booklets with guidelines on the Ministerial Decree No. 501 as well as the Ministerial Decree No. 580 of 2015 on the prevention of fishing and marketing of small sizes of fish that have less length than the allowed limit. The booklets contained tips and guidelines for fishermen, vendors and public about the importance of the Ministerial Decrees, as well as images of the banned species and the allowable fish sizes. The booklets were prepared in four languages, namely Arabic, English, Hindi and Chinese so as to ensure that information reaches all sections targeted in the campaign," said Al Harmoudi.
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