58. The Workshop was organised by the Fisheries Company of Iran (SHILAT). The main working language was English, but an English-Farsi translation was given for the interventions during the opening cermony. The list of participants is shown in Appendix 2c.
59. An opening address was given by Mr Jalali, Deputy Minister and Managing Director of Shilat. He introduced the Iranian fisheries and stated clearly that reduction of bycatch in shrimp fisheries is a priority area for Shilat. He also stressed the importance of other Gulf countries having a similar agenda and that cooperative efforts should be promoted. The National Coordinator from Iran of the project introduced some of the issues related to shrimp fisheries. He noted that assistance provided by FAO in 1997 through practical testing and demonstration of Bycatch Reduction Devices (BRD), had been useful for development of such tools in the Iranian shrimp fisheries
60. The main contributions in the first working session were from the two core participating countries; Bahrain and Iran which provided detailed information on the shrimp fishing industry in the two countries.
61. Bahrain reported 2 571 tonnes of shrimp catch in 1997, which is 25.6% of the total catch in the country. During the period 1980-1997, the maximum shrimp landings of 3 565 tonnes were in 1996, while the lowest catch of 752 tonnes was recorded during the Gulf war in 1992. Shrimp trawling was developed in 1967, and the fleet consisted originally of outrigger trawlers towing two trawls. These have now been replaced by traditional vessels (“banoush”) towing only one trawl. In the 1997/98 shrimp season there were 335 operational vessels of varying sizes, between 5 and 23 meters in total length. Although it has been known that a significant amount of fish bycatch is captured together with the shrimp, reliable data did not exist prior to the ongoing two-year survey aimed at monitoring such bycatch. Results from this survey have not been published yet. Bahrain has also conducted experiments with a bycath reduction device during the 1999/2000 season. Indicative figures are a reduction of finfish by 50%, crabs by 10% and with no loss of shrimp catch.
62. Iran’s catch of shrimp is approximately 7 000 tonnes, which is 1.67% of the total fish landings. Banana shrimp (Penaeus merguiensis) is the main species in the Hormoagen province, Green Tiger Shrimp (Penaeus semisulcatus) in Boshehr province and Metapenaeus Affinis in the Khozestan province. The fleet consists of 39 industrial trawlers of 27 m length and 750 hp engines fishing with outriggers(two trawls), approximately 870 wooden vessels of 16 m average length and 100-220 hp engines (Dhows) and approximately 1 500 fibreglass boats of 7 m mean length with 25-45 hp engines. The shrimp trawler catch composition consists of 10-17% shrimp, 10-25% small fish, 40-60% juvenile fish (less than 30 cm in length) and 10-20 large fish. Most of the small fish and juveniles are discarded, more so at the start of the season when shrimp catches are good. In Hormozgan province discarding is banned and a collecting scheme for such bycatch is established. The shrimp fishing season in each province is approximately six weeks, and opening and closing is based on the maturity and body length of shrimp and percentage (20%) of remaining stock.
63. Iran had developed a framework for a project aimed at reducing the environmental impact of shrimp trawling. This was presented and found to be a good basis for discussion of content of the main phase project.
64. Iran also reported on results from tests with various designs of BRDs onboard one of their outrigger trawlers. Based on 180 tows conducted in the 1998/99 season up to 75% fish bycatch reduction was reported without losing shrimp catch. These results were obtained with a combined BRD consisting of a NAFTED design plus a Fisheye behind (it is worth observing that such an arrangement is almost the same as the one which was initially tested in 1997 with FAO assistance).
65. Mr Hussain Mahmood Al-Foudari of Kuwait reported on the status of Kuwait’s 1999/2000 shrimp fishery. The fishing season opened on 1 September 1999 and closed on 31 January 2000: 1 575 tonnes of shrimp were landed, which was lower than the long-term average of 2,068 tonnes. Compared with the preceding season this represented a 31% decrease in landings, but at the same time the effort increased by 34%, which resulted in a 49% reduction in catch-per-unit-effort. He informed that approximately 50% of the shrimp catch is caught by unlicensed dhow boats. At the start of the season most fish bycatch is discarded, whereas 82% of the total catch consists of fish at the end of the season. On average the catch is composed of 69% shrimp and 31% fish. Discard rates were not known.
66. Mr Al Mohammadi from Qatar informed about the shrimp fishing situation in his country. A shrimp trawl fishery was conducted in the 1960s and 1970s, but based on a recommendation from external experts shrimp trawling was banned from 1992, the reason being that the bycatch rates were too high. The fishery has not yet been open, but regular research is carried out to monitor the situation. It was indicated from previous experience that when trawling is permitted there might be a catch potential of 700 tonnes of shrimp in Qatar waters.
67. Oman shrimp fisheries. Only traditional fishing methods are allowed, mainly cast nets, involving 500-700 fibreglass boats. The fishing season is from 1 September to 31 December. There are plans to develop trawling for shrimp in deeper waters. Oman has therefore a serious interest in becoming aware of technologies that can minimize the impact of shrimp trawling.
68. An opinion survey was conducted in Bahrain, based on a questionnaire developed by FAO. The National Coordinator reported on the results: 166 questionnaires had been filled in by representatives from various fishermen’s groups (vessels owners, shrimp fishing crew and other fishermen, fish traders, fish producers, fishery administration and environmental groups). The industry considers fish bycatch to be a problem but most of the fishermen are reluctant to use BRDs because of the additional workload. The fishing vessel operators also pointed out the need for improvement of fisheries management, in particular in consideration of the actual overfishing.
69. During the discussions several participants noted that illegal fishing and poor management are considered to be a serious problem in the region. Another problem raised was that the industry was not fully aware of the increased catch potential of delaying capture of shrimp until it has grown to a larger size.
70. The representative from ROPME (Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine Environment) expressed strong support for such a project and informed that the Gulf area is considered as a special area requiring special protection. Increased pollution and reduced water outflow to the Gulf from rivers were mentioned as possible sources for increased environmental stress in the area. ROPME also expressed concern about the impact of trawls scraping the bottom. Concern was expressed about the impact of trawling on the turtle population in the region which is known to have five sub-tropical endangered species.
71. The occurrence of turtles in the fisheries of various countries was reviewed. Bahrain presented data about the incidence of turtles in their shrimp fishery, which amounted to approximately 1 200 during a fishing season. It was, however, stated that most captured turtles were released alive, and therefore mortality was considered to be low, primarily because tow duration was relatively short. Kuwait reported a very low occurrence of turtles in their shrimp fisheries. Iran has limited information about the incidental catch of turtles in their shrimp fisheries but the representatives stated that this might be a problem, which they therefore suggested be included in the main phase project. We were informed that an island off Oman was the most important nesting site for loggerhead turtles in the world (approximately 30 000). As Oman had no shrimp trawling at present, the problem will only arise when and if such a fishery is developed.
72. The definition of bycatch was raised as a matter of concern. Different countries have a different understanding of this concept. It was noticed that many countries land part of the non-shrimp catch and this, to a large extent, depends on the time of season. At the beginning of the season when shrimp catches are good, most of the fish is discarded, whereas at the end of the season when shrimp catches are low, more of the fish bycatch is landed.
73. Iran has recently introduced a system of collecting bycatch at sea in one of its provinces (Hormozgan), which is used for making fish meal. The plan was to ban discarding all kinds of bycatch in shrimp fisheries in the country.
74. Regarding bycatch and discards, Iran and Bahrain noted that the composition and amount of bycatch is not well documented in most shrimp fisheries. However, it was also stated that on certain fishing grounds and during certain fishing periods, the fish bycatch during shrimp trawling is very small.
75. Uncertainties regarding distribution and migration of shrimp and fish make good management measures difficult.
76. The duration of the authorized shrimp fishing season is different in all the countries of the region: 6-7 weeks in Iran, 6 months in Kuwait and 9 months in Bahrain. Decisions regarding the opening and closure dates for each fishing area are very important in respect of the possible amount and composition of the bycatch. For this reason much attention is paid to the decision process which is based on careful surveys at sea, scientific advice and consideration of the percentage of the marketable size of shrimp.
77. All countries stated that capture of juvenile fish was a major concern and that the project therefore should have reduction of such bycatch as the primary objective.
78. It was noted that some success had be achieved in experimental testing of bycatch reduction devices (BRD) in the fisheries of Iran and Bahrain. It was, however, recognised that further improvement is required and that the BRD technology has to be adopted to different types of vessels (dhows and fibreglass boats) and for various fishing grounds.
79. Some noted that many shrimp trawls used in the region were adaptation of fish trawl designs and that more tailored-made trawls for shrimp fishing should be developed.
80. A major challenge for implementing change in fishing practice and adoption of new technologies is the resistance to such changes among the fishermen. It was widely agreed that for any success there must be participation by the fishermen in all stages of such a project.
81. It was recognised that incentives might be necessary to gain acceptance for required changes. One suggested solution was to give a number of vessels an approved BRD for testing, and the importance of gaining experience prior to making any device mandatory was stressed.
82. It was observed that any process to reduce bycatch will somehow lead to an immediate loss of income for fishermen. It is still questionable if any increase in quantity or quality of the shrimp caught (possibly resulting from some improvement of the shrimp trawl or even from the utilization of some BRD) can compensate such loss.
83. A group consisting of representatives from Bahrain, Kuwait and Iran drafted a table of priority problems and activities to be conducted in the region during a main phase project. The draft proposal was presented in a plenary session. A version, modified to harmonise it with the outcomes of the other workshops, is shown in Table 3.
Table 3 Identified problems and proposed activities to be included in the main phase project in the Persian Gulf region ( Priority list)
Problem |
Impact |
Project activities |
Output |
Groups involved |
Implementing/
|
I. Capture of juvenile fish and turtles |
- Non-sustainable capture of juvenile food fish
|
- Study seasonal bycatch composition
|
-Knowledge of species composition by area and season
|
- Fishing industry
|
National government
|
II. Lack of technical experience and awareness of the bycatch problem by fishers and researchers |
- Incapability to introduce new technologies |
- Awareness programme for fishers
|
- Increased understanding for the need to change fishing practice
|
- Fishing industry
|
National Government
|
III. Countries in the region use different methods and levels for collecting and analysing data |
- Non-consistent management tools within the region |
- Collect information about individual countries data collection and suggest standards
|
- Comparable data collection and analysis of data within the region |
- Research institutions
|
National Governments
|
IV. Trawling on nursery grounds |
- High catch rates of juveniles |
- Identify nursery grounds |
- Maps of nursery grounds |
- Research institutes
|
National Government
|
V. Trawls are not properly designed to catch shrimp |
- Trawls are efficient for fish but not optimal for shrimp catch |
- Study impact on bottom
|
- Lower fish/shrimp ratio
|
- Fishing industry
|
Fishing industry
|
VI. Bycatch is discarded |
- Wastage of fish as food |
- Alternative use of bycatch |
- Increased human food supply
|
- Fish processors |
National Government
|
VII. Lack of regional co-operation in management |
- Conflict between countries |
- Establish a regional working group within RECOFI |
- Coordinated management |
- National governments
|
National governments
|
