Dh20,000 fine, jail for hunting stone-curlews in UAE

Dubai - MoCCAE warns against hunting stone-curlews to preserve ecological balance.

The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, MoCCAE, has issued a warning against using electronic devices that mimic bird calls to lure stone-curlews in the UAE, imposing a fine of up to Dh20,000 and jail time for violators, wam reported on Thursday.
The move follows the increase in hunting of the rare bird species during its winter migration through the country that poses a threat to its reproduction. The UAE has adopted legislations and launched several initiatives for the conservation of rare and endangered bird species.
Sultan Alwan, Assistant Under-Secretary for the Regions Sector at MoCCAE, said, "The ministry has recently noticed that some people use electronic devices that imitate the voice of the stone-curlew to attract large numbers of these birds over long distances in order to catch them easily."
Alwan pointed out that hunting stone-curlews is a violation of the Federal Law No. 24 of 1999 for the protection and development of the environment, amended as Federal Law No. 11 of 2006, punishable by imprisonment for a maximum period of six months and a fine of up to Dh20,000.
The illegal act also affects the UAE's high ranking on the Global Environmental Competitiveness Index. In 2017, the country placed 16th on the Environmental Legislation Implementation Index and the Index of Legislation Effectiveness and Strictness, as compared to the 19th and 18th ranks respectively on each index in 2014.
He added, "The UAE will not allow such random individual misdemeanors to affect the unified efforts of government agencies, private sector and other segments of society."
"In coordination with the UAE Cabinet, MOCCAE is currently preparing to meet with municipalities across the seven emirates to discuss raising awareness regarding this important issue by placing signboards in hunting areas and intensifying campaigns against such violations. Furthermore, the Ministry will review the regulations that control the import of bird song-replicating devices into the country,"Alwan said.
He explained that the ban on the hunting of threatened species is part of the Ministry's sustained efforts to preserve the rich biodiversity of the country that comprises a range of terrestrial and marine ecosystems.
"We have initiated several significant steps including the National Red List of Threatened Species Project and the National Invasive Species Project."

Hunting laws, fines