KUWAIT CITY, Sept 9: Concerns in the fishing sector are no longer limited to fish abundance or harsh weather, as they now extend to facing armed pirates who threaten lives and confiscate equipment, reports Al-Seyassah daily. At the same time, government regulations are worsening the hardship, leaving the fishing profession caught between the jaws of danger and restrictions. The fishing sector is currently facing a worsening crisis that threatens the survival of the profession and poses risks to national food security, amid attacks by armed pirates in economic waters, coupled with regulatory restrictions that limit fishing activities within territorial waters. Hamoud Al-Hamdi, Shift Supervisor A at Sharq Fish Market, told the newspaper that five Kuwaiti fishing boats were subjected to armed pirate attacks on Sept 5, indicating the boats were stolen, including navigational equipment and supplies. “This incident happened just days after a shooting that claimed the life of an Egyptian fisherman,” he added.

He pointed out that such attacks are not new, as similar incidents previously occurred in economic waters, particularly the killing of a fisherman two years ago while performing his work. He stated that “fishermen today are caught between the jaws of pirate attacks on one hand, and government restrictions on fishing methods on the other hand, which threaten marine food security. The crisis has exacerbated as Asian workers are now reluctant to take up fishing jobs, while Egyptian fishermen have migrated to Greece, leading to dozens of fishing boats ceasing operations recently.”

He said the current government regulations only allow the ‘trailing’ method within a 12-nautical-mile range, while prohibiting the use of effective tools such as net and traps. “This has forced fishermen to venture into distant and dangerous waters,” he disclosed. He called for permitting the use of these tools under strict environmental regulations, stressing that protecting fishermen is now a national duty to ensure the stability of fish and shrimp prices. He also underscored the importance of strengthening the Coast Guard’s role and coordinating with neighboring countries to combat piracy.

The following are the catch statistics from Sept 1 to 6, 2025: