17 arrested for breaking Sharjah natural reserve rules

Seventeen people have been arrested for infiltrating Sharjah's nature reserves.

The External Inspection teams of the Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA) have been carrying out regular checks to prevent intrusions that can potentially harm the wildlife found within the reserves and its biodiversity.

Violators will face administrative fines, with some amounting to as high as AED 50,000, officials said, adding, that there are a "total of 9 types of violations".

The most common violation is entering the nature reserves without an official permit, which amounts to AED 5,000.

Hunting, transporting or killing wild or marine creatures in the nature reserves, or the reserve’s surrounding areas, or carrying out works that would harm them is not permitted, unless determined by the environmental laws, with violators facing AED 10,000 in fine. 

In addition, individuals or companies can be fined AED 10,000 for hosting activities in the nature reserves or the areas surrounding them unless they've got the required needed approvals.

"The plan is to monitor the natural reserves strictly and reduce the number of violations. Strict measures are in place against violators and we aim to stop the intrusions," Hana Saif Al Suwaidi, Chairperson of the Environment and Protected Areas Authority, added.