Experts discuss depleting fish in north Gulf

Kuwaiti, Arab and international experts got together here on Monday holding a workshop on the issue of depleting fish wealth in the North Gulf.
Speaking at the opening session, Dr. Naji Al-Mutairi, Director General of Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), said the workshop is aimed at establishing regional cooperation to manage fishing in the North Gulf and draw up plans to stop depletion of the marine wealth.
The workshop, organized by KISR in coordination with several national authorities, grouped experts and researchers from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Australia and the United Nations Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Fish wealth in the North Gulf is depleting, Al-Mutairi confirmed, protesting excessive fishing that has resulted in supply shortage, adding that the conferees would look into causes of the problem.
For his part, Dhaher Al-Suyan, Chairman of the Kuwaiti Fishermen Union, presented a work paper, proposing rehabilitation of Kuwait Bay, minimizing pollution, clearing it of contaminating and dumped materials and items, affirming that fish in the Kuwaiti territorial waters have been depleting due to over-fishing and pollution, as well as neighboring countries' non-abidance by seasonal fishing schedules.
As to main polluting sources, he pin pointed sewage water, waste of power stations and spread of construction. He called for tighter regulations on boaters and giving stricter guidance to fishermen.