RECOFI Technical Workshop on Spatial Planning for Marine Capture Fisheries and Aquaculture Doha, Qatar 24 28 October 2010 Disclaimer This is an unedited presentation given at the RECOFI Technical Workshop on Spatial Planning for Marine Capture Fisheries and Aquaculture. The Organizers do not guarantee the accuracy or authenticity of the contents. Citations Please use the following citation sequence when citing this document: 1. Author. 2. Title. 3. Presented at the RECOFI Technical Workshop on Spatial Planning for Marine Capture Fisheries and Aquaculture 24 28 October 2010, Doha, Qatar.
RECOFI regional spatial planning for marine capture fisheries and aquaculture State of Qatar By Mohammad Flamarzi 24 28 October 2010, Doha, Qatar
Part 1. Geography Qatar is a peninsula in the Gulf covering an area of approximately11 000 sq.km including a number of small offshore islands. Maximum length is about 180 km along the north-south axis, while the east-west width is 85 km at its widest point. The total area of Qatar s sea-water is approximately 35,000 sq. kms Coastline: 700 km It is bounded by the Gulf on all sides except in the south where it touches the eastern province of Saudi Arabia.
Part 2. Marine capture fisheries profile Main fisheries Target species Status of fisheries
Part 2. Marine capture fisheries profile Main fisheries Target species Status of fisheries
Part 2. Marine capture fisheries profile Main fisheries Status of fisheries Number of vessels Fisheries resources are exploited by artisanal fishing fleet comprising two principal fishing vessel types, the Launchs and Tarads. 1.The Launch is a decked vessel usually constructed of wood and powered by an in-board engine; the average trip length is between 3 and 5 days. Professional fisheries sector involves about 484 active Launch ranging in length between 14 & 20 meter; and operated by 2899 fishermen. 2.The recreational fisheries sector involves about 1000 licensed Tarad. The Tarad is an open dory usually of fiberglass construction powered by an outboard motor/s. Due to its small size, trip duration does not usually exceed 1 day.
Part 2. Marine capture fisheries profile Main fisheries Status of fisheries Main fishing gears Main fishing gears Fishing vessels use a variety of fishing gears, of which the fish trap or gargoor is the most commonly used method. A brief description of fishing gears in use is given below: 1.Fish Traps (Gargoor) - Dome shaped wire traps, usually baited with dried sardines and/or bread and used to target demersal species. 2.Drift Nets - Gill nets, drift at the sea surface and used to target large pelagic species. 3.Encircling Gill Nets - Small mono-filament gillnets set around schools of small pelagic species. 4.Handlines - Mono-filament line with one or more baited hooks.
Part 2. Marine capture fisheries profile Main fisheries Status of fisheries Recent trends of catches and landings Qatari fisheries is nearly doubled during the period from 2000 to 2009 constituting 7139.6 and 14066 mt, respectively.
Part 2. Marine capture fisheries profile Status of fisheries Landing site, fish marketing & consumption There are four (al-khour, al-wakra, al-rewies and al- Doha) landing sites where fish is landed and taken to the fish auction which is held daily at the Doha Central Market. Most production is consumed locally although some fish is exported to neighboring countries.
Marine capture fisheries profile Continued Monitoring, control and surveillance systems M,C&S system is developed by fisheries department and being applied in cooperation with coast guard Municipalities and customs. Responsible management authority Responsible management authority The governing institution for fisheries and aquaculture is the Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Environment, and headed by the Director of Fisheries.
Marine capture fisheries profile Continued Management options (input/output controls) Management options (input/output controls) Input controls Stoppage issuing new fishing licenses for launchs and tarads. Decreasing the fishing effort by limiting the number of landings (3 landings/vessel per month) for launches during the period April- June each year. Prohibiting the destructive bottom trawlers. Output controls Size limits are applied as minimum legal lengths for some commercial species including orange-spotted grouper and others.
Marine capture fisheries profile Continued Major concerns (IUU, overcapacity, overfishing, etc.) Overcapacity did not estimated; Overfishing nationally is being handeled :in the following manner regionally and
:Overfishing What has been accomplished so far?
Scientific name Local name Stock status تقييم الوضع الراهن إستغلال آامل Fully exploited ربيب - bieb Gnathanodon speciosus Ra Diagramma pictum فرش - rsh Fa إستغلال م فرط Overexploited Lethrinus nebulosus شعري- Shaa ri إستغلال آامل Fully exploited Lethrinus lentjan شعري بقشينة - Bucshina إستغلال م تدني Under-exploited Lethrinus microdon سولي - y Sool إستغلال أمثل Sustainably exploited Scomberomorus commerson آنعد- Kanaad إستغلال م فرط Overexploited إستغلال آامل Fully exploited هامور - mour Epinephelus coioides Ha Siganus canaliculatus صافي - fi Sa إستغلال أمثل Sustainably exploited Argyrops spinifer آوفر - Kufer إستغلال م تدني Under-exploited Rhabdosargus haffara قرقفان - Qorqofan إستغلال أمثل Sustainably exploited
Different senarios to manage the shared stocks (Scomberomorus commerson) a re being discussed.regionally An overall national management strategy being developed while applying precautionary management measures in line with the FAO code of conduct.
Aquaculture Sector Aquaculture in Qatar is in its early stages The current number of people employed in the aquaculture sector is insignificant. There is no commercial culture activity in the country. Experimental trails have been carried out with the white-spotted spinefoot (Siganus canaliculatus), yellowfin sea bream (Acanthopagrus latus), and the greasy grouper (Epinephelus coioides). The larval production of yellowfin sea bream and green tiger prawn (Penaeus semisulactus) was successfully carried out and both species are used in marine stock enhancement programmes.
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