KUWAIT CITY, July 16: Today marks the beginning of the sea bream fishing season in Kuwait's territorial waters, following a ban that aimed to preserve marine biodiversity from June 1 to July 15.

The Fishermen's Union has expressed optimism regarding future resolutions for fishermen's issues. They highlighted recent engagements with Dr. Mahmoud Bushehri, Minister of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy, who oversees the Public Authority for Agriculture. According to the union, the minister has shown an understanding of fishermen's demands and has pledged to address sectoral challenges within existing capabilities and legal frameworks.

In a statement, the union thanked the Ministry of Interior and the Coast Guard Department for their support, noting that fishermen have received approval to commence economic waters fishing with the upcoming shrimp fishing season starting August 1. Fishermen seeking access to economic waters can obtain necessary permissions through the Ministry of Interior's online platform.

The union also appealed to the Ministry of Finance to reconsider recent reductions in diesel quotas, citing operational disruptions that have led to increased costs and market prices due to decreased supply. They further urged the ministry to review longstanding fish subsidies, which have not been adjusted in over three decades despite rising operational costs for fishermen.

Regarding efforts to fish mead fish in Kuwait Bay, the union expressed disappointment with the Environment Authority's repeated rejection of their requests, despite granting permissions to amateur fishermen. They argued that addressing such issues could alleviate rising consumer prices, particularly for mead fish, which have seen significant price hikes despite local availability.

The union emphasized the importance of governmental responsiveness to fishermen's concerns, asserting that addressing these issues could positively impact market stability and support sustainable fishing practices in Kuwait's waters.