These have led to a decline in the availability of shrimp and local fish, particularly popular species such as mead and zubaidi. In this context, the daily met with several officials and specialists in the marine fishing sector, who confirmed that government efforts continue to control the market and provide seafood products at reasonable prices.

According to the specialists, some of the regulations imposed by the authorities responsible for managing fishing have caused catch quantities to decline threefold, led to the disappearance of important species from the market, most notably mead, and resulted in price increases for others, especially zubaidi. Experts called for reconsidering the designated fishing distance, suggesting it be reduced to between 6 and 7 miles instead of 12, while maintaining strict environmental controls to protect coral reefs and ensure the sustainability of marine life.

They also called for opening limited areas within the bay for commercial fishing on a seasonal and controlled basis, aiming to balance environmental protection with food availability. Meanwhile, the Shift A Supervisor at the Sharq Fish Market, affiliated with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Hamoud Al-Hamdi explained that fishermen face major obstacles that directly affect the availability and prices of fish in the market. These challenges are evident from the daily work and constant interaction with fishermen and consumers. He said, “We live in a restricted fishing reality, imposed by long-distance requirements and high costs, which negatively impact the market and consumers.” In a press statement, Al-Hamdi explained that the number of daily baskets of fish and shrimp used to reach about 700, but today it has decreased to between 200 and 300 baskets on normal days, and only 400 to 500 baskets during the shrimp season, despite the first days of the season witnessing the injection of good quantities amounting to about 20,500 tons of fish and 17,988 tons of local shrimp.

Reducing the distance to 6 or 7 miles would result in larger catches and lower prices, while still maintaining environmental oversight. Al-Hamdi clarified that the aim of raising these demands is not to interfere with the powers of the relevant authorities, but to present a practical perspective from the field, seeking to balance protecting the marine environment, sustaining fish stocks, and enabling fishermen to operate effectively to serve consumers and achieve food security. He said the year-round closure of Kuwait Bay to fishermen has led to a significant shortage of maid and zubaidi fish, indicating that areas like Subiya used to supply abundant quantities of zubaidi, while mead is primarily found within the bay. Al-Hamdi revealed that the price of a basket of mead used to be no more than KD 6, but due to the severe shortage, it has sometimes soared to KD 120. He stressed that the “upper” fishing method does not harm coral reefs and poses no environmental risk.

Al-Hamdi proposed opening specific areas within the bay for seasonal fishing, lasting between one to three months, under the supervision of the relevant authorities, adding that these areas could then be closed after the season ends to ensure sustainability and prevent overfishing. Furthermore, Chair of the Kuwait Fishermen’s Union Abdullah Al-Sarheed agreed with the proposal of Fish Market Supervisor Hamoud Al-Hamdi, stressing the need to reconsider the permitted fishing area and reduce the imposed distance outside the islands from 12 miles to only 6 to 8 nautical miles. He explained that this long distance not only constitutes an economic burden but also exposes fishermen to serious security risks. Several fishing boats were robbed by pirates and robbers in economic waters during the current fishing season, with more than ten incidents recorded, resulting in significant financial losses for boat owners. Reducing the permitted fishing distance will contribute to enhancing security at sea and opening areas to fishermen, which will ease the burden on Coast Guard personnel who continue their efforts to protect fishermen around the clock. Al-Sarheed praised the cooperation of the Ministry of Defense and the General Directorate of Coast Guard in this area. He also called for opening Kuwait Bay for fishing on a seasonal and regulated basis, under the supervision of the Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) and EPA.

Al-Sarheed stressed that not fishing within the bay for long periods leads to fish death or migration due to the lack of marine soil movement and oxygen renewal. Regarding the protection of coral reefs, Al-Sarheed affirmed that fishermen are fully committed to preserving the marine environment, and that the union implements periodic awareness programs to ensure adherence to best environmental practices. Also, Vice President of the Kuwait Fishermen’s Union Jaber Al-Ali described the current fishing season as different in terms of the abundance of catch and the diversity of seafood products. He pointed to an improvement in the quantities of fish and shrimp on offer, which has been reflected in the relative stability of prices. Al-Ali called for opening fishing in Kuwait Bay during specific seasons and under the supervision of regulatory authorities, and for allowing the fishing of mead fish, which often migrates or dies if not caught in time. He considered the failure to benefit from this fish to be a loss for the Kuwaiti consumer. He also supported the proposal to reduce the permitted fishing distance in economic waters to just 6 nautical miles, stressing that this would make fishing trips safer and help reduce incidents of robbery and piracy. Al-Ali affirmed that the Kuwait Fishermen Union is fully prepared to cooperate with the relevant authorities to address the challenges facing the sector, in a way that ensures the sustainability of fish resources, protects fishermen, and preserves this traditional profession that represents the heritage of our forefathers. In addition, all who spoke to the daily agreed that some of EPA’s requirements pose direct challenges to fishermen, most notably:

- The requirement to stay 12 nautical miles away from the nearest land for shrimp fishing

- The ban on commercial fishing within the waters of Kuwait Bay