04 July 2011
KUWAIT: The dusty weather that has gripped the country has led to a 20 percent rise in the prices of one of Kuwait's favorite dishes- fish. According to an official from the Fishermen's Union in Sharq, who spoke with Kuwait Times on condition of anonymity, the surge in price was expected due to bad weather over the last four days. The Zubaidi variety for example [large size] was priced at KD five per kilogram last week.
Now, it is sold at KD 6. The same applies to Hamour variety as well; last week it was sold at KD 4 per kilogram, now it costs KD 5 [the large size]. "The bad weather condition has contributed to the rise in prices when many fishermen during prefer to stay ashore. In addition, summer is already slow [catch by quantity] because most of the fisherman are on leave," he added. Compared to last year, prices of fish variety are significantly lower.
In fact, Zubaidi, the same size was priced between KD 8 to 10 per kilogram last year. Hamour was priced between KD 6to 8 per kilogram. "Fish are traditionally not plentiful during summer because we already know that many Kuwaitis and expatriates spend the summer outside [of Kuwait]. So, we see to it that our supply is limited as per our need," he opined. Like shrimps, fishing Zubaidi is also prohibited in Kuwaiti waters from June 1 to mid-August to facilitate reproduction.
At least 20 percent of the market needs are obtained from Kuwaiti waters, the remaining are imported from neighboring countries such as Iran, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Thailand. Press reports yesterday claimed that the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) plans to introduce a ban on fishing in Kuwaiti waters for at least two years. Some fishermen in Kuwait did not oppose the plan but demanded 'full compensation' instead.
While we do not know whether they are serious or not. Many of us here in the Fishermen's Union will abide by the plan if implemented. We need a reasonable compensation if it happens. Anyhow, we only supply about 20 percent of the market need, so what is 20 percent? It can be easily supplied by our neighboring countries who are already the main source of about 80 percent market needs," an official from Fishermen's Union told Kuwait Times.
According to the official, the ban is an addition o the latest in a series of prohibitions placed by the authority - from limited access to fishing areas inside Kuwaiti waters to a ban on fishing nets. "Mind you, we have had enough of bans. We are not allowed to troll for Zubaidis and shrimps. They have already banned the use of nylon nets. What else is new? All we need, if the [PAAAFR] is serious, is a reasonable compensation," he stated.
Last year, a group of fishermen backed up by Fisherman's Union staged a few days of protest against PAAAFR fishing ban order on certain zones and the use of nylon nets. The issue was settled amicably. The PAAAFR banned the usage of nylon nets in compliance with the agreement signed between all the GCC countries for ecological reasons.
Kuwait's Fisherman Union argued that the proposed replacement of nylon nets with cotton ones, was not only flimsy[equipment per se] but also unsuitable for commercial fishing. The Fishermen's Union claimed that none of the GCC countries who were signatories to the nylon net ban have enforced the ban. Despite the protest held last year, and efforts made by the Fishermen's Union, the ban was strictly implemented. Many fishermen who were caught flouting the 'nylon net' ban and 'zone fishing' were reportedly
deported.
KUWAIT: The dusty weather that has gripped the country has led to a 20 percent rise in the prices of one of Kuwait's favorite dishes- fish. According to an official from the Fishermen's Union in Sharq, who spoke with Kuwait Times on condition of anonymity, the surge in price was expected due to bad weather over the last four days. The Zubaidi variety for example [large size] was priced at KD five per kilogram last week.
Now, it is sold at KD 6. The same applies to Hamour variety as well; last week it was sold at KD 4 per kilogram, now it costs KD 5 [the large size]. "The bad weather condition has contributed to the rise in prices when many fishermen during prefer to stay ashore. In addition, summer is already slow [catch by quantity] because most of the fisherman are on leave," he added. Compared to last year, prices of fish variety are significantly lower.
In fact, Zubaidi, the same size was priced between KD 8 to 10 per kilogram last year. Hamour was priced between KD 6to 8 per kilogram. "Fish are traditionally not plentiful during summer because we already know that many Kuwaitis and expatriates spend the summer outside [of Kuwait]. So, we see to it that our supply is limited as per our need," he opined. Like shrimps, fishing Zubaidi is also prohibited in Kuwaiti waters from June 1 to mid-August to facilitate reproduction.
At least 20 percent of the market needs are obtained from Kuwaiti waters, the remaining are imported from neighboring countries such as Iran, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Thailand. Press reports yesterday claimed that the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) plans to introduce a ban on fishing in Kuwaiti waters for at least two years. Some fishermen in Kuwait did not oppose the plan but demanded 'full compensation' instead.
While we do not know whether they are serious or not. Many of us here in the Fishermen's Union will abide by the plan if implemented. We need a reasonable compensation if it happens. Anyhow, we only supply about 20 percent of the market need, so what is 20 percent? It can be easily supplied by our neighboring countries who are already the main source of about 80 percent market needs," an official from Fishermen's Union told Kuwait Times.
According to the official, the ban is an addition o the latest in a series of prohibitions placed by the authority - from limited access to fishing areas inside Kuwaiti waters to a ban on fishing nets. "Mind you, we have had enough of bans. We are not allowed to troll for Zubaidis and shrimps. They have already banned the use of nylon nets. What else is new? All we need, if the [PAAAFR] is serious, is a reasonable compensation," he stated.
Last year, a group of fishermen backed up by Fisherman's Union staged a few days of protest against PAAAFR fishing ban order on certain zones and the use of nylon nets. The issue was settled amicably. The PAAAFR banned the usage of nylon nets in compliance with the agreement signed between all the GCC countries for ecological reasons.
Kuwait's Fisherman Union argued that the proposed replacement of nylon nets with cotton ones, was not only flimsy[equipment per se] but also unsuitable for commercial fishing. The Fishermen's Union claimed that none of the GCC countries who were signatories to the nylon net ban have enforced the ban. Despite the protest held last year, and efforts made by the Fishermen's Union, the ban was strictly implemented. Many fishermen who were caught flouting the 'nylon net' ban and 'zone fishing' were reportedly
deported.
© Kuwait Times 2011
