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The membership applications of two blind nationals were turned down by the Ras Al Khaimah Higher Fishing Committee because they were deemed unfit to carry out the profession. The decision of the committee was issued during a meeting held yesterday at the municipality.
Mubarak Ali Al Shamsi, the Director General of the municipality, said the committee decided not to grant these fishermen the license to practice the profession because their handicap prevented them from fulfilling the requirements laid down by the latest federal fishing law - No. 23 for the year 1999.
A licensed national fisherman must be on board the boat at all times during excursions to ensure that regulations are being followed. However, these men would be incapable of meeting this condition, as they would not be able to oversee that their workers are adhering to the law.
According to law No. 23 for the year 1999, nobody can practice the profession without a licence from the Higher Fishing Committee.
Al Shamsi said that the decision was taken in order to protect these nationals, as going to sea with their condition would put their lives at risk.
The conditions for fishing in Ras Al Khaimah have dramatically improved in recent years with the number of violations on the decrease following the enactment of the federal fishing law No. 23 for the year 1999, he said.
One of the men whose applications had been rejected recounted that he had been a professional fisherman for many years, and regretted that he was being denied his sole source of income.
"Blindness should not prevent a man from doing any kind of work," he said, asking not to be named. "We are skilled in fishing and we have been trained by our ancestors."
He stressed that his life had never been at risk when onboard a boat, as there are always plenty of assistants around.
"The only responsibility of the UAE national fisherman is to have a sharp insight and guide these assistants," he said. "Many blind fishermen were granted fishing licenses before the new law was enacted."
They would send Asian fishermen out to sea, or give their licenses to relatives and friends, and take the income. But this source of income is no longer available for the visually impaired, he said.
Mohammed Al Zaabi, who heads the Fisheries Section at the Agricultural and Fisheries Department, said that the strict implementation of the federal fishing law No. 23 for the year 1999 has been very useful.
The price of fish has recently dropped in the emirate's fish markets and all types of fish are available, he said. The price of Al Qibab fish dropped in this week to Dh12 from Dh45, the going rate only a few weeks ago, he said.
He added that all the authorities would continue to enforce the new fishing law, 'and that there will be no exceptions'.
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