Fishing by Al Halaq in Abu Dhabi is now banned

The decision was issued to help protect the Spanish Mackerel (Kingfish), a migratory species locally known as Kan'aad, which is a major commercial species in the region. EAD calls on all fishermen to abide by this decision because it will help prevent the unsustainable exploitation of the Emirate's fisheries.

The issued decision cancels all related decisions previously issued. Moreover, the ban is in accordance with Federal Law No. 23/1999 pertaining to the Protection and Development of Marine Resources. Anyone found violating this decision will be considered to have violated both Article (23) and Article (26) of this federal law.

Kan'aad occurs in the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and Northern Arabian Sea. It is usually fished in Iran, the UAE, Kuwait, Kingdom of Bahrain, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Sultanate of Oman, Yemen, Somalia, Kenya, Pakistan and India .

It is worthwhile to note that fishing by Al Halaq was considered an alternative method to the drift net Al Hayali, famously known as the web of death, which is banned locally, regionally and by international law. Al Hayali, which was banned in 1999, drifts freely in the sea indiscriminately trapping marine life in its path and was known to destroy rare and endangered species such as sea turtles and dugong.