Vessel 'Maryam' Detained Off Shabwah Coast for Fishing Violations
Local sources reported that security forces detained a fishing vessel off the coast of the Radhum district in Shabwah governorate for engaging in illegal fishing activities and using dredging equipment, which harms marine life within Yemeni territorial waters.
The sources clarified that the vessel, named "Maryam," was found to be temporarily registered with the Shabwah branch of the General Authority for Maritime Affairs and had a crew of non-Yemeni sailors and fishermen.
An official cable obtained by "Al-Mahriah," issued by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and addressed to the General Authority for Fisheries in Shabwah, revealed that the vessel is classified as a coastal fishing vessel and not designated for traditional fishing.
The ministry confirmed in the cable that the vessel should not be granted a fishing license, and that licensing this type of vessel is exclusively handled through the ministry's main office after a formal agreement is signed.
The ministry ordered the immediate revocation of any traditional fishing licenses granted to the vessel 'Maryam' and a permanent ban on its fishing activities in Yemeni waters. It also directed that all documents related to the vessel be submitted to the ministry's main office to complete legal procedures and take appropriate action against it and its crew.
Fishermen and environmental specialists have previously warned on several occasions about the danger of dredging operations on fish stocks and marine breeding grounds, which are a primary source of livelihood for local residents, warning that it threatens rare fish species with extinction.
Source: Al-Mahriah Net
