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29 March 2024

No pollution off Dubai after fish massacre

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By Staff


The death of thousands of fish found floating off Dubai this week was caused by banned fishing methods rather than any pollution problem, UAE environment authorities said after testing dead fish samples.

“Tests showed that there was no chemical pollution of any kind in Dubai’s waters nor there was any microbe contamination in the fish,” said Mariam Al Shannasi, Ministry of Environment and Water undersecretary.

“Our investigation showed that a large quantity of fish had been caught and a large part of it had been dumped in the water…this is an irresponsible behavior  and a crime because it threatens our fish wealth and poses an environmental threat to the emirate’s coastline….we will take measures against those who are responsible for this crime and threatening our water and beaches.”

Quoted by Emirat Alyoum Arabic language daily, she said such a crime is punishable by three months in jail and a fine of up to Dh50,000 under the 1999 federal law concerning the protection of the UAE marine wealth.

On Monday, Dubai’s fishermen’s association said they were informed by the coast guard that thousands of dead fish were found floating in the emirate’s waters in an area extending around half a mile in Boya Zahra west of Dubai.

“We have received information from the coast guard they have found thousands of dead fish in that area…these fish are considered among the best marine animals and we believe they have been subjected to banned fishing ways by some boats,” the association’s chairman Mohammed Al Marri said.

He said the present unsettled weather in the UAE and strong sea currents prevented an aggravation in this problem as a large quantity of the fish were washed away Dubai’s coast to outside the Gulf. “Otherwise, it could have caused an environmental problem to Dubai’s coasts and grea t annoyance to the people.”

Earlier story:

Dubai’s coast guard units have stumbled across thousands of dead fish in the emirate’s waters and the fishermen’s association believes banned fishing methods are behind this marine massacre.

The Dubai-based Emirat Alyoum Arabic language daily carried a two-minute film on Monday showing dead fish were plucked by an association boat in an area extending around half a mile in Boya Zahra west of Dubai.

“We have received information from the coast guard they have found thousands of dead fish in that area…these fish are considered among the best marine animals and we believe they have been subjected to banned fishing ways by some boats,” the association’s chairman Mohammed Al Marri said.

“We sent a boat to verify the report and found many types of Tuna fish, which we call Al Sadda, have perished...the Ministry of Environment and the Dubai Municipality have launched an investigation into this problem.”

Marri said the investigation would reveal how this “massacre” happened, adding that it could have been a result of new fishing techniques carried by special boats, of which six are believed to be in Dubai and two in Sharjah.

“It is expected that the persons who are responsible for this lack fishing experience…they used this technique in a wrong way, resulting in catching a large quantity of fish that exceeds their boat capacity…this has led to the death of all excess fish catch…most of them were found floating on the surface.”

He said the present unsettled weather in the UAE and strong sea currents prevented an aggravation in this problem as a large quantity of the fish were washed away Dubai’s coast to outside the Gulf. “Otherwise, it could have caused an environmental problem to Dubai’s coasts and great annoyance to the people.”