Kuwait's Shrimp fishing season kicks off after 7-month ban: 297 vessels ready for harvest
TL;DR:
Kuwait officially started its
shrimp
fishing season in its economic zone from 1 August, allowing licensed boats to harvest shrimp until early 2026.
Shrimp are marine decapod crustaceans, valuable both commercially and ecologically, with Kuwait focusing on penaeid species like Penaeus semisulcatus and
Metapenaeus
affinis.
Authorities strictly enforce seasonal bans, seizing illegal trawlers and prosecuting offenders to preserve shrimp stocks and ensure
sustainable fisheries
.
On 1 August, the Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR), in coordination with the Kuwait Fishermen Union, announced the start of the shrimp fishing season in Kuwait's designated economic waters as per Arab Times.
A total of 297 licensed vessels are authorized to operate during this period, which serves as an essential annual harvest following a seven-month closed season.
Authorities emphasize compliance with Resolution No. 1094/2024, under which inspection teams actively patrol and have already seized vessels involved in illegal trawling during the ban period, with legal actions underway against offenders.
What is Shrimp and how is Shrimp fishing conducted?
Shrimp are small aquatic crustaceans in the decapod order, with ten legs.
In Kuwait and the Gulf, the primary commercial species are penaeid shrimp, predominantly Penaeus semisulcatus and Metapenaeus affinis, which account for over 90% of the country's shrimp landings.
Shrimp fishing typically uses bottom trawling: vessels drag weighted nets along the seabed to capture shrimp. While effective, this method often results in bycatch—non-target species or juveniles caught unintentionally.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Is it better to shower in the morning or at night? Here's what a microbiologist says
CNA
Read More
Undo
Reducing bycatch is a key conservation objective.
Seasonal management & conservation measures in Kuwait
To safeguard shrimp populations, Kuwait enforces several long-standing fishery controls:
Annual closed season: Traditionally from September through early August, aligned with shrimp spawning cycles. Since 2002, opening was moved earlier to 1 August to optimize harvest without compromising recruitment.
Protected zones: Fishing is prohibited within three miles of the coastline and within Kuwait Bay during breeding periods.
Effort limitations: Entry is capped to about 35 industrial trawlers and 33 artisanal dhow boats. Net mesh sizes are regulated to avoid catching undersized shrimp.
Despite regulations, enforcement can be inconsistent, sometimes leading to illegal fishing during ban periods, mainly due to non-compliance by vessels from neighbouring nations.
Economic & food security implications
The shrimp season is a vital economic lifeline for Kuwait's fishers, helping:
Stabilize market prices
Ensure supply of local seafood
Support livelihood security
However, persistent issues like subsidized diesel shortages, rising equipment costs, and labour shortages threaten season profitability and sustainability.
The Kuwait Fishermen Union has urged the government to restore fuel subsidies and reinforce support to preserve both the industry and national food security.
Why this Matters
Timing and resource protection
: The annual ban and controlled opening help preserve shrimp breeding stocks and overall fishery health.
Licensed access only
: Only approved vessels are allowed during the season to prevent overfishing and protect marine biodiversity.
Strict enforcement
: Customs authorities are actively intercepting illegal vessels to deter violations under Resolution 1094/2024.
Global relevance
: Given high bycatch risks with shrimp trawling methods, careful regulation is critical to maintain sustainable stocks.
Kuwait's shrimp fishing season, which began on 1 August, marks a carefully managed harvest phase after months of conservation. With licensed vessels only, enforced zones, mesh-size rules, and active enforcement against illegal trawling, the season reflects a balancing act between economic activity and environmental stewardship. Shrimp, delicious yet ecologically vulnerable, symbolizes how modern fisheries must navigate sustainability, regulation, and food security.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
‘Situation is bad, will do whatever it takes to save lives. But it's a tough task'
Uttarakhand CM Puskhar Singh Dhami's chopper could land near disaster-hit Dharali only after five attempts on Wednesday. In an interaction with Kautilya Singh, the CM spoke about the current situation in the village and plans on how to take forward the rescue and relief ops. Excerpts: What is the present situation in Dharali? The area has got disconnected from the district headquarters. Due to heavy rains and landslides, roads leading to Dharali are damaged, so is an important bridge nearby. The helipad at Harshil is also hit, making heli operations even more difficult. To top it, communication networks have been disrupted. Power supply has snapped. The situation is adverse, but our rescue teams are putting their best efforts to save lives. It is a Herculean task. How many people are feared trapped in the debris? Some individuals have given wrong information that hundreds got trapped in the debris. This is completely wrong and misleading. According to our information, a total of 190 people were rescued, and 120 are from the right side of Dharali village area and 70 from the left. According to initial information, around five or six locals and some labourers might have got trapped under the debris. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If you have a mouse, play this game for 1 minute Navy Quest Undo Two bodies were brought out. Going by fresh inputs, another dozen odd people might be trapped. Despite the hurdles, what is the progress of rescue ops? Teams from the Army, ITBP, SDRF, police and revenue department are carrying out rescue operations. Relief camps have been set up at Inter College Harsil, GMVN and Jhala. Simultaneously, efforts are underway to restore electricity and communication networks on a war footing. NIM and SDRF teams have begun constructing a temporary bridge at Limchagadh. At our request, the Centre has deployed two Chinooks and two MI-17 helicopters from Chandigarh, Sarsawa and Agra to Jolly Grant Airport early on Wednesday morning. Heavy machinery is being airlifted via Chinook helicopters to restore road connectivity. Around 125 Army personnel and 83 ITBP personnel are actively involved in rescue operations. BRO teams, including six officers and over 100 laborers, are working to clear blocked roads. Are there any tourists trapped at Dharali? So far, there is no information regarding tourists at Dharali. Besides, due to the monsoon, the number of pilgrims coming to Gangotri and other dhams has gone down considerably. I met the locals as well, but they did not give any information about tourists. There was a fair near the village on Tuesday, and it is said that around 100 to 150 people had gone there. With roads disconnected and helipad damaged, how do authorities plan to take the rescued people to hospital? This is a major challenge. We have planned a strategy to take the rescued persons from the Nelong side. A team of four doctors has already reached Harshil and efforts are on to bring them to Dharali at the earliest. Besides, a team of 13 specialists from Dehradun has been moved to Uttarkashi district hospital. A team of specialists has also been deployed at ITBP Matli and two more specialist doctors are scheduled to arrive at Uttarkashi on Thursday.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Chandigarh administration introduces auto-appeal feature under Right to Service Act
Chandigarh: The Chandigarh Administration has introduced an auto-appeal feature for applications made under the Right to Service Act. The administration has notified 'The Chandigarh Right to Service (Amendment) Rules, 2025', making changes in Rule 5 to allow for auto-appeal. The notification states, "Consent of the applicant shall be presumed at the time of submitting the application through online mode on the portal(s) developed by the Chandigarh Administration regarding auto appeal/revision to First/Second Appellate Authority or Commission, as the case may be, in case there is a breach of the statutory limit for imparting service. Hence, appeal/revision shall be deemed to have been filed automatically. " A suitable provision shall be made in the software regarding automatic appeal/revision on the portal(s) on behalf of the applicant. It shall be mandatory for the applicant to provide their mobile number while submitting the applications through online mode, further states the notification. An eligible person shall make an application for the delivery of service to the designated officer either personally, through email, registered post, e-Sampark/Help-desks, or through online mode on the portal(s) developed by the Chandigarh Administration, duly addressed to the aforesaid designated officer. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Spacious 3 & 4 BHK Homes Starting ₹1.65 Cr Near HITEC City Honer Signatis Book Now Undo If such an application is found complete in all respects, the designated officer shall acknowledge the receipt thereof in a prescribed form(s)/online mode provided by the respective departments for each service. If any document required for the delivery of service has not been enclosed with the application by the applicant, the same shall be clearly mentioned in the acknowledgement slip by the designated officer to enable the applicant to make their application complete in all respects. The designated officer shall not raise objections on such an application in a piecemeal manner. The time limit specified for the delivery of service in such cases shall commence from the date when the applicant supplies all the deficient documents mentioned in the acknowledgement.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Donkey sent down zipline in Russia in bizarre stunt; shocking video surfaces
A bizarre incident unfolded in the Republic of Dagestan in Russia, where tour guides sent a donkey down a zipline over a cliff to attract attention from tourists. The donkey did not sustain any injury and landed safely. The videos of the incident surfaced on social media platforms, including X. The move was probably an attempt to boost tourism, but it sparked outrage, prompting police to say that charges couldn't be pressed against the guides as the donkey was not injured and there was no proof to confirm that the animal was traumatized. Productivity Tool Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide By Metla Sudha Sekhar View Program Finance Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By Dinesh Nagpal View Program Finance Financial Literacy i e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By CA Rahul Gupta View Program Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By Neil Patel View Program Finance Technical Analysis Demystified- A Complete Guide to Trading By Kunal Patel View Program Productivity Tool Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By Study at home View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program — RT_com (@RT_com) by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Malaysia: New Container Houses (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search ads Search Now Undo This was not the first such incident. In 2010, a donkey was made to parasail as part of an advertising stunt in southern Russia, the BBC reported, citing Russian media. The incident that took place back then (2010) prompted police in the area to launch an investigation into the matter. The donkey was sent up into the sky by entrepreneurs to attract people to their private beach. Witnesses near the beach on the Sea of Azov in the Krasnodar region state that the donkey was screaming in fear. The animal landed in the water and was pulled onto the shore, according to police. "The donkey screamed, and children cried," regional police spokeswoman Larisa Tuchkova told the AFP news agency. "No one had the brains to call the police." Bystanders, instead, clicked photographs and phoned newspapers, she said. Live Events "It was put up so high into the sky that the children on the beach cried and asked their parents: 'Why did they tie a doggy to a parachute?'" Taman newspaper reported last week. "The donkey landed in an atrocious manner: it was dragged several meters along the water, after which the animal was pulled out half-alive onto the shore," the paper reported. Police began to investigate after the incident, which occurred at the coastal village of Golubitskaya.
