New rules for recreational fishing in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi has introduced new regulations for recreational fishing and organising fishing competitions in the emirate’s waters.

Recreational fishing can be practised by anglers or users of pleasure boats and they must obtain a permit from the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD).

The licence applicants must be aged 18+ while those under 18 can accompany an adult with a valid permit.

Applications for an annual or weekly licence can be submitted through the Tamm government services portal.

Recreational fishing gear may include line and hooks or spear guns when free diving or by any other method specified by the EAD.

.@EADTweets has issued a decision on the regulation of recreational fishing and fishing competitions across #AbuDhabi, to ensure adherence to sustainable fishing practices, and protect the emirate’s marine environment. pic.twitter.com/GE3xWgsuRE

— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@ADMediaOffice) June 13, 2023

A permit is also mandatory for organising marine fishing competitions.

Organisers shall be responsible for safeguarding the event by providing necessary arrangements, tools and equipment for security and safety.

They must also specify the type and quantity of the targeted species, fishing tools and gears that will be used in the competition and the number of participants.

Applications must also specify how they plan to dispose of the fish caught.

The internationally recognised diving flag must be displayed when spearfishing. While fishing with a speargun, there must be at least three people on board the boat - a driver and two holders of a recreational licence for using speargun.

Upon completion of the fishing trip, a report with details of species caught and the quantity is to be submitted to the EAD.

Valid recreational fishing licences or fishing competition permits must be presented upon request by an EAD employee or other competent authority. This also applies to holders of internationally accredited licence for free diving.

A recreational fishing licence or a competition permit must be used by the licencee only.

Fish or marine species caught must not be disposed of until returning to land or reaching the anchorage or landing area and should not be sold.

This is in addition to not catching or keeping marine species, or any part thereof, for ornamental purposes.

The regulations also prohibit fishing, trading, keeping or causing damage to certain restricted fishing species, which include painted sweetlips, yellow grouper, red coral, sea horsefish, parrotfish, sharks and stingrays of all kinds, sea turtles, whales and dolphins, dugongs and corals.

Read more: https://t.co/bNIENrJIVP

— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@ADMediaOffice) June 13, 2023