Protecting fish stocks in Mecca: 500 boats inspected as part of monitoring campaigns

As part of ongoing efforts to enhance environmental compliance and protect natural resources in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Makkah Region of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture a series of intensive field inspection campaigns targeting fishermen's harbors and marine recreational areas along the region's coastline. These actions are part of a comprehensive strategy aimed at enforcing compliance with fishing regulations and ensuring the sustainability of fish stocks , protecting them from harmful practices that could threaten the ecological balance.

Details of the monitoring campaign

The Ministry's Agriculture Department revealed the initial results of these campaigns, which included more than 85 thorough and comprehensive inspection tours . These tours involved inspecting nearly 500 boats , ranging from artisanal fishing vessels to recreational boats, to ensure their compliance with regulations and the extent to which their owners adhere to the Ministry's approved bylaws. The field teams from the Fisheries Department focused their efforts particularly on verifying that fishermen and recreational boaters were using approved fishing gear and confiscating any illegal equipment that could deplete fish stocks or damage coral reefs and the marine environment.

Strategic context and importance of protecting the marine environment

These campaigns are of paramount importance in light of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 , which prioritizes achieving food security and the sustainability of natural resources. The Red Sea coast of the Makkah region is among the richest areas in marine biodiversity, making its protection a national and economic imperative. Preserving fish stocks is not only environmentally significant but also economically vital, ensuring the continuity of the fishing industry for future generations and providing high-quality seafood to the local market, thus reducing reliance on imports and boosting domestic production.

Awareness is a fundamental pillar of compliance

The efforts were not limited to oversight and enforcement; inspections were accompanied by intensive awareness and guidance programs for beneficiaries. These programs included detailed explanations of the new regulations and instructions, aiming to raise legal awareness among fishermen and recreational boaters and prevent them from committing violations that could subject them to penalties. This approach stems from the Ministry's belief that community partnership and awareness are the first line of defense for environmental protection.

Institutional cooperation to regulate maritime practices

For his part, Engineer Waleed bin Ibrahim Al-Daghis, Director General of the Ministry's branch in the Makkah region, affirmed that these initiatives reinforce the principle of effective field monitoring to raise compliance rates and protect natural resources from depletion. Al-Daghis emphasized that awareness is a fundamental pillar complementing the monitoring role in achieving environmental sustainability goals, noting that the campaign seeks to regulate marine practices according to the highest regulatory standards. The Director General also commended the strategic cooperation and integration with the Border Guard Command in the Makkah region and all participating entities, stressing their pivotal role in facilitating the inspectors' tasks and ensuring the success of agricultural compliance plans.