KUWAIT CITY, Sept 17: The Kuwait Fishermen’s Union expressed gratitude for the efforts of the authorities involved in supporting the fishermen, commending the resolution of the diesel crisis. They praised the officials from relevant government agencies who attentively responded to the appeals of the fishermen and played a role in resolving this issue, reports Al-Rai daily. In an official statement, the Fishermen’s Union mentioned that a coordination meeting of concerned authorities was headed by Saad Al-Alati, Assistant Undersecretary for Budgets at the Ministry of Finance.

Also present were Eng. Nasser Taqi, Acting Director General of The Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fisheries Resources (PAAAFR); Mohsen Al-Mutairi, Acting Deputy Director General of PAAAFR; and Eng. Salem Al-Hai, Director of the Marine Control Department.

Representatives
Additionally, representatives from various key institutions attended the meeting, including Hamid Al-Dhafiri from the Ministry of Commerce’s emergency team, Ghanem Al-Otaibi from the Kuwait Oil Company’s local marketing department, Dhaher Al-Sawyan and Nabil Al-Mudahka, the President and Vice President of the Fishermen’s Union respectively. Amna Al-Jamal, the coordination and follow-up supervisor in the general budget affairs sector, also contributed to the discussions. The meeting yielded crucial recommendations, the primary one being the reinstatement of the previously reduced share of subsidized diesel.

The union emphasized its commitment to the conditions set during the meeting and stressed the significance of addressing issues related to street vendors. They clarified that all the catch is intended for the local market and is sold at the Sharq and Fahaheel markets. The committee’s decision was met with contentment from the fishermen, alleviating one of the challenges they faced.

The union remains steadfast in advocating for the fishermen’s rightful demands and will actively engage in seeking solutions for various challenges, including improvements to the fishermen’s village, increased fish support, and addressing concerns regarding mead fishing and its location. They are awaiting a response from the Environment Public Agency regarding the Federation’s request to fish mead in Kuwait Bay in accordance with the prescribed regulations and conditions set by the concerned authorities.