Kuwait bans fishing of oysters

In a bid to maintain fishery's health in territorial waters, Kuwait's public authority for agriculture and fish resources announced on September 15 the start of banning fishing and sale of oysters.

Director of the fishery department Khaled al Mubarak told reporters that fishing of oysters has started to drain the shellfish, and according to an Amiri decree, the authority issued regulations to maintain fish resources. He said that new fishing methods increased chances of draining oyster numbers to unacceptable levels.

Fishing of oysters has been limited to a certain period, staring in mid-May and ending in September. Ships are required to have a Kuwaiti owner and all workers should carry their civil identification cards.

Al-Mubarak also praised the authority's cooperation with coast guards in the Interior Ministry, Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Kuwait's municipality.

Meanwhile Iran banned pearl fishing in its Gulf waters because of the dwindling reserves of oysters.