The Federation of Kuwaiti Fishermen has expressed profound dismay over the ongoing challenges unfolding within the Kuwait Sea in the form of persistent vulnerability of Kuwaiti fishing vessels to acts of plunder and piracy within Kuwait’s exclusive economic waters, reports Al- Jarida daily. The federation has urged for swift resolution to this perilous situation and conveyed its concerns in a statement yesterday to the concerned authorities.
The federation revealed that three Kuwaiti fishing trawlers were looted, underscoring the pattern of organized plunder designed to induce fear among Kuwaiti fishermen and coerce many of them to halt their fishing activities. The federation hopes the plight of the fishermen would resonate with higher leadership, resulting in the provision of adequate protection for them while operating within economic waters.
Emphasizing its cause, the federation informed that it had formally communicated with relevant authorities by dispatching official letters, pleading for a reinforcement of security checkpoints to safeguard Kuwaiti economic waters and provide protection for the fishermen who encounter harrowing experiences at sea, contributing to the assurance of marine food security.
The federation stressed that should losses persist due to piracy and robbery, a considerable number of fishing license holders would cease their fishing endeavors. The federation made a direct appeal to officials, urging them to decisively curtail the incursion of poaching activities within Kuwait’s economic waters, as delineated by Amiri Decree No. 317/2014, thereby highlighting the extensive theft operations, which not only result in stealing catch but also equipment, navigation instruments, and personal belongings, including mobile phones and money.
According to a high-ranking security source, the piracy, looting and assault that some Kuwaiti fishing vessels are exposed to is taking place outside the Kuwaiti territorial waters, due to which it is not the responsibility of the Ministry of Interior to intervene or protect these violating vessels due to their exit from the Kuwaiti territorial waters, reports Al-Anba daily.
The source explained that fishing licenses were given to practice fishing, provided that it is carried out only in the Kuwaiti territorial waters. Unfortunately, some fishing vessels do not comply with the laws and conditions for fishing, and they decide to fish outside the Kuwaiti territorial waters, which exposes them to looting, piracy and assault by marine gangs that do not enter the Kuwaiti territorial waters due to the presence of the Coast Guard officers along the maritime borders who are equipped with the latest devices and weapons, and deal with any transgression by reciprocating.
Some fishermen go out from the Kuwaiti territorial waters to the international waters between Kuwait and neighboring countries to fish. By doing so, they are violating all laws, exposing their lives to danger and exposing Kuwait to political embarrassments and the possibility of international violations.
The Coast Guard officers, in coordination with the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR), wait for the violating fishing vessels, seize them when they return, and refer them to the concerned authority. In this regard, the Kuwait Fishermen Union expressed its regret that three Kuwaiti fishing vessels were looted on Tuesday. It highlighted the continued vulnerability of Kuwaiti fishing vessels to looting and piracy in the territorial waters of Kuwait.It stressed the need for a quick solution to this dangerous situation.