Is Time Running out for the Rescue of Yemen’s Fisheries Resources? [Archives:2000/21/Reportage]

Yemen Times has over the last 2 years regularly reported on the dangers facing the national fish wealth. Overfishing of shrimp, cuttlefish and valuable demersal species such as grouper, snapper and emperor by industrial trawlers, the obviously uncontrolled slaughter of sharks for their fins by local fishermen as well as foreign vessels and the prohibited sale in Sana’a and elsewhere of undersized and female lobsters with their eggs still attached have been key issues raised in this context. Another concern was related to the temporary ban of the import of Yemeni fishery products into the European Union due to non compliance of Yemeni sanitary standards in conformity with those in force in the EU. This in turned raised questions in regard to consumer health protection.
Fishery is of considerable importance to Yemen’s national economy and the safeguarding of its long-term future must therefore be a priority for our policy makers. 500,000 people directly and indirectly depend on the trade with frequently little or no alternative sources of income available to them. Fishery contributes at present some 2% to Yemen’s GDP and generates export earnings of 20 million USD per annum. If properly managed, experts suggest that export earnings of at least 50 million USD are within reach and that the sector could contribute up to 5 % of GDP, equivalent to 230 million USD.
It appears now, that the Ministry of Fish Wealth under the leadership of Minister Ahmed Musaed Hussein has started to implement reforms that may be able to stop the collapse of some of the threatened fish stocks just in time and prepare the ground for its recovery. The drastic reduction of licensing of industrial vessels and the extension of closed seasons for the shrimp and lobster fishery are the proof that the Ministry is serious.
Obviously, these reforms have to be understood and supported by all sector stakeholders in order to make them successful. The Ministry of Fish Wealth assisted by the European Commission and the World Bank decided therefore to present its new draft sector strategy for discussion to representatives of the local fishing communities, industrial fishing companies, processors, exporters and concerned government agencies. Approx. 200 workshop participants from all parts of the country gathered for 2 days here in Sana’a for this purpose.
The workshop, which had been convened under the patronage of H.E. Ali Abdullah Saleh, President of the Republic, was opened with a stimulating speech delivered by H.E. the Prime Minister, Dr.Abdulkarim Al Iryani. The Prime Minister lashed out against pirate fishing in Yemen’s territorial waters and harmful fishing practices employed by the operators of some industrial vessels, which had only their short-term gain in mind. He cited the experience of countries bordering the Gulf of Aqaba and the Mediterranean, which have seen a sharp decline in their fish resources due to insufficient monitoring, surveillance and control. He re-iterated that Yemen can learn from those countries’ experiences in order to prevent a similar situation from developing in Yemen. The Prime Minister said ” fish wealth is a blessing and we are lucky that 90 % of our fish is still caught by thousands of traditional fishermen, who want this resource to last forever. We as a government recognize our responsibility to protect the source of their livelihood and at the same time enhance its contribution to the economy”.
The Minister of Fish Wealth, Ahmed Musaed Hussein introduced the outline of the draft sector strategy, which rests on 3 pillars i.) fisheries management based on strengthened fisheries statistics, regular fish stock assessment and an expansion of applied fisheries research, ii.) gradual withdrawal of the state from its involvement in commercial activities and future focus on provision of an enabling environment through an improved regulatory framework, enforcement of rules and regulations by way of a more effective monitoring, control and surveillance as well as quality control, iii.) improvement of coastal infrastructure including the provision of the fishing communities not only with access infrastructure and protected landing sites but also with basic services such as power, water, health and education.
Erhard Loher from the European Commission and Gianni Brizzi, Tijan Sallah and Geert van Santen from the World Bank supported the call by the Ministry of Fish Wealth for a stricter regulatory framework and more support for those government agencies involved in enforcing fisheries legislation. They moreover echoed the Prime Minister’s call for adequate protection of the interests of the artisanal fishermen. The consensus here was that industrial fisheries should only be allowed to target species that cannot be fully exploited by the small scale fisheries. Otherwise it may be restricted to waters that cannot be safely accessed by the artisanal fleet on account of distance from shore.
Yemen Times managing editor Mohammed Hatem Al Quadi followed the proceedings of the workshop and subsequently spoke with members of the workshop committee – Dr. Abdul Bari Fachri, Assistant Deputy Minister of Fish Wealth, Dr. Omar Subeih, General Director of the IV th Fisheries Development Project and Rainer Freund, Head of the European Commission Technical Advisory Office in Sana’a.
YT: Dr. Fachri, what is your assessment of the outcome of the workshop.
Dr. Fachri : The validity of the proposed future orientation of fishery policy in Yemen as outlined by the H.E. the Minister of Fish Wealth has been confirmed during these 2 days by all participants. Although we had hoped for this outcome, it is still a pleasant surprise given the variety of interests represented here by both private and public sector stakeholders as well as by the small scale and industrial fisheries sub-sectors. We will now finalize our draft strategy paper based on the conclusions of the workshop. The next step is the formulation of a succinct sector policy statement for review by the cabinet as well as a costed sector action plan for the next 15 years with a priority list for the forthcoming 5 years. Let me add that I am also satisfied with the fact that the donors present here seem to be reasonably happy with our conclusions so that I am optimistic that some external support can be secured for the implementation of the said action plan.
Dr. Subeih added: ” one reason for the quick consensus reached here on the 2nd day of the workshop is the long term preparation of this event. We have under the IV th Fisheries Project prepared with European Commission been financing two detailed sector reviews, the first in 1993 and the update in 1997/1998. This was followed by a draft sector strategy note prepared by the World Bank in 1999. Most of the critical decisions now taken by the Ministry of Fish Wealth and supported by all stakeholders are based on the in depth study of the related issues during the past 6 years. Clearly we are at present living in times more conducive to change – otherwise some of the re-orientation measures now agreed on could have been implemented even earlier. However, as Dr. Fachri said, we can be content with the outcome of the workshop”.
YT: Mr. Freund, the European Commission has supported the development of Yemen’s fisheries sector for the last decade and has also been the principal financier of this workshop. Your colleague, Mr.Loher has in the opening session reiterated the Commission’s continued commitment to fisheries development in Yemen. What exactly are your intentions in regard to future co-operation in this sector.
Mr. Freund: First of all I would like to express my admiration for the way in which this workshop has been organized. To bring parties with such seemingly conflicting interests to one table is not easy to start with. The fact that a general consensus has been reached on issues that had not too long ago been open for public discussion is even more remarkable. The government has taken a clear stance in favor of small scale fisheries, recognizing that resource conservation, employment and food security take precedence over direct revenue obtained from the granting of industrial fishing licenses for species that can be fully exploited by the artisanal sub-sector. The MFW is moreover committed to the privatization of its remaining productive assets, thereby removing market intransparencies and distortions. It is also determined to become a more effective regulator and overseer of the trade.
The Commission is already supporting this new policy with a comprehensive training program in fishery products quality control systems, due to start in June, 2000. This program addresses issues of consumer health protection in Yemen but is also an indispensable basis for a competitive export industry. We are moreover studying the scope of a possible assistance program for fisheries monitoring control and surveillance. Our remaining involvement in the IV th Fisheries Project seeks to consolidate the operation by fishermen co-operative societies of productive infrastructure completed with Commission financing along the Al Mahrah and Hadramawt coast in 1997 and 1998. Our sizeable food security program in Yemen can mainly also be used to further complement these efforts.
 

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