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Excessive Fishing Poses Danger to Sharks

FUJAIRAH - Excessive fishing activity has resulted in depletion of marine resources and is posing a danger to the existence of sharks in the Arabian Sea, a regional research forum was told on Friday.

The symposium in Fujairah, which will conclude today, highlighted that the sharks were being hunted for their fins which fetch heavy profits in 
East Asian countries. Because there is not much of a demand for shark meat in the domestic market, the fishermen dump the meat in the sea which eventually reaches the shores, 
thus posing harm to the environment.

Minister of Environment and Water Rashid Ahmed bin Fahd, in a speech delivered on his behalf, said the UAE considers marine life as one of the most important sectors that needs to be developed, maintained and regulated. The minister explained that the shark is one of the living marine resources that is important for the food chain, on the one hand, and to preserve the balance of marine environment, on the other.

He said that the Ministry of Environment had sought to achieve the protection, development and sustainability of living marine resources on the basis of studies and information available and as well in accordance of the Federal Law 23 of 1999.

The ministry, he added, has set standards for the sustainability of 
this vital resource and taken into account the achievement of several objectives, including restricting fishing of small shark in breeding areas to prevent over-fishing and the collapse of the stock, as well as decline in fishing of the reef gray shark because of its importance to the tourism 
industry.

He pointed out that the Ministry of Environment is undertaking studies on marine environment and conducting marine surveys to assess fish stocks and breeding seasons.

He explained that at the global and regional levels all indications are that low and declining fish stocks were a result of many factors, including over-fishing and poaching.

salah@khaleejtimes.com