The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture's office in Al-Lith Governorate has launched a comprehensive field campaign for monitoring and compliance targeting marine fishing activities in the governorate. This step is part of the Ministry's ongoing and intensive efforts to protect fish stocks and regulate fishing practices, ensuring a balance between economic exploitation and the environmental sustainability of living marine resources in the Red Sea.
The inspection campaign covered several key marinas in the governorate, including Al-Laith Marina, Al-Masna' Marina, Majirmah Marina, Al-Ghalah Marina, and Samar Marina. The monitoring teams conducted thorough field visits to ensure that fishermen and fishing boats were adhering to the established regulations and instructions, and to address any violations that could harm the marine environment.
National context for enhancing food security
This campaign is of particular importance given the strategic directions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia within Vision 2030, which places great emphasis on the fisheries sector as a vital pillar of food security and the national economy. Through the National Fisheries Development Program, the Ministry seeks to improve the quality of production and enhance fish stocks, which necessitates strict monitoring to prevent overfishing and the use of prohibited fishing gear that depletes natural resources and destroys coral reefs and fish habitats.
Monitoring violations and the impact of compliance
The campaign primarily aims to monitor violations and enforce the regulations governing the fishing, investment, and protection of living aquatic resources. Inspectors are focusing on raising awareness among fishermen about the importance of adhering to permitted fishing seasons and using approved nets and equipment. This monitoring effort is expected to contribute to improving the marine environment along the Al-Lith coast, positively impacting the sustainability of the fishing industry for future generations and ensuring a continued flow of high-quality seafood to local markets.
Official statement and future aspirations
For his part, the Director of the Ministry's office in Al-Lith Governorate, Engineer Yahya Al-Mahabi, affirmed that this campaign comes within the framework of achieving the objectives of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture aimed at protecting natural resources. Al-Mahabi pointed out that enhancing the efficiency of monitoring and supporting the sustainability of the fisheries sector is a top priority, stressing that the Ministry will not compromise in enforcing regulations to ensure a rich and sustainable marine environment in the long term, serving fishermen, consumers, and the national economy alike.
