Sharjah kicks off fishing heritage festival

A fisherman demonstrating the fish cutting techniques on a stall at the 7th Dried Fish and Fishing festival.- Photo by M. Sajjad

An array of heritage activities, songs, dances, crafts, shows and competitions are lined up for the seventh edition of the 'Dried Fish and Fishing' festival that kicked off in Dibba Al Hisn, Sharjah, on Wednesday (June 26).
A total of 15 government entities, 20 outlets and 10 families involved in production are participating in the four-day event being organised under the patronage of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Speaking to Khaleej Times, Taleb Abdullah Safar, director of Dibba Al Hisn Municipality, said this is a festival that focuses on marine affairs and the salted fish sector.
He said the heritage event has become a leading platform to showcase traditional crafts in the salted fish and related industries in the eastern region of Sharjah.
The festival also promotes the traditional kit of fishing, Safar added.
"It hosts a number of folklore shows, dances, songs, along with several workshops on the best and most hygienic ways to make, cut, and store salted fish."
The festival has two special corners: One for a marine museum that displays old fishing tools dating back to the beginning of last century, and another showing the engines of modern fishing motorboats.
Waleed Bukhatir, second deputy of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman, said the festival, since its inception in 2013, has been shedding light on the UAE heritage of fishing crafts and industries.
"The Sharjah Chamber co-runs this festival with the Dibba Al Hisn Municipality to keep our local heritage alive and boost salted fish and fishing industry so that it remains profitable for the people of this region."
afkarali@khaleejtimes.com

• Sharjah

Afkar Ali Ahmed

afkarali@khaleejtimes.com