KUWAIT CITY, Aug 24: Kuwait’s fishermen have landed more than 273 tons of shrimp and 300 tons of assorted fish in the East and Fahaheel markets this month, as calls grow for the regulation and development of the local fishing sector.

Barak Al-Subaie, Secretary-General of the Kuwait Fishermen's Union, emphasized the need to modernize fishing practices and urged authorities to reopen “midd” fishing within Kuwait Bay, citing restrictions in many fish-harbor areas that he said are unfairly affecting tarrid boat owners.

“Regulating fishing has become an urgent necessity,” Al-Subaie said. He noted that increasing the length of tarrid boats has benefited fishermen and made operations more efficient. Last month, the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAFR) approved an increase in tarrid length to 12 meters. Tarrid boats are used to catch swimming fish near the surface with nets and bottom-dwelling species with traps.

Al-Subaie highlighted that tarrid boats represent nearly half of Kuwait’s fishing fleet and stressed that fishing zones should be reconsidered to prevent losses to their owners. “Fish migrate if they are not caught and are then returned to us as imports. The issue of opening fishing in the lagoon must be reconsidered because the species in shallow lagoon waters are migratory, moving in and out throughout the year depending on weather conditions,” he said.

The secretary-general also pointed to the start of the shrimp fishing season in Kuwait’s economic waters, describing it as promising for fishermen’s livelihoods. He credited the catch with helping reduce local fish prices and expressed gratitude to government agencies supporting the sector.

Fishermen, he said, are committed to maintaining marine food security and protecting the marine environment to ensure sustainable development in line with Kuwait’s national vision for the future.