Fishermen plan strike over clamp
By BASMA MOHAMMED
Published: 3rd June 2008
FISHERMEN from Muharraq are planning a strike that they say could drive up fish prices and dramatically reduce supplies in the market. The fishermen, from Al Dair and Samaheej, are planning to stay ashore for the next two weeks after a peaceful demonstration over land reclamation was broken up by riot police on Sunday.
One fisherman, who organised Sunday’s protest, claimed fishing boats from the area were now catching just one-eighth of the amount of fish they were a year ago.
Fishermen plan strike over clamp
By BASMA MOHAMMED
Published: 3rd June 2008
FISHERMEN from Muharraq are planning a strike that they say could drive up fish prices and dramatically reduce supplies in the market. The fishermen, from Al Dair and Samaheej, are planning to stay ashore for the next two weeks after a peaceful demonstration over land reclamation was broken up by riot police on Sunday.
One fisherman, who organised Sunday’s protest, claimed fishing boats from the area were now catching just one-eighth of the amount of fish they were a year ago.
“We are planning to go on strike and not go fishing to show that we are not pleased with what is happening to the area,” Mohammed Hasan Ahmed told the GDN yesterday.
“It is affecting our earnings and is affecting the people living in the area as well.
“Each small boat used to get 200kg of fish everyday, but now they are only getting 25kg – which doesn’t even pay for the petrol spent on going out to sea.
“The fish are dying because of reclamation.
“This strike will cause the prices of fish to increase. Fish is sold for approximately BD3 per kg, but this will rise to BD5, if not more, because 90 per cent of fish come from Al Dair area.”
The fishermen staged Sunday’s protest to demand compensation for loss of earnings, as well as action to repair marine damage by companies behind the reclamation.
Marine resources general director Jassim Al Qassir said yesterday that a study on how much compensation each fisherman in the area should receive had already been carried out by a committee appointed by the Municipalities and Agriculture Ministry.
“Now we are asking the companies responsible for the reclamation to hurry up with a decision to compensate the fishermen,” he added.
“The compensation will depend on fish traps fishermen use in the area – whether owned or rented from the government – and if the area of sea they fished in had been affected.
“But fishermen have to understand that this process takes time, just like it did with the Northern Governorate fishermen.
“It took them time to get compensation and not all of them have got the compensation yet.”
He also said companies behind land reclamation had been asked to create artificial reefs in the sea to attract fish, adding that work on such projects was being started by Amwaj Islands and Durrat Al Bahrain in that area.
The GDN reported yesterday that riot police ended the protest by fishermen on reclaimed land on Sunday after the fishermen blocked a road.
They staged the demonstration on land that now occupies the place where they used to moor their boats.
However, the fishermen accused riot police of firing rubber bullets at protesters, who included young children and the elderly, to disperse them.
The Interior Ministry on Sunday claimed that rubber bullets were no longer used in Bahrain, despite GDN photographs showing riot police at the scene carrying guns.
New photographic footage emerged yesterday of a man, identified as Sayed Hussein Sayed Hashim, receiving hospital treatment for bruising to his chest, legs and feet after he was allegedly hit by projectiles fired by police.
Area municipal councillor council Mohammed Abbas also claimed to have been struck in at least four places.
“These (reclamation) projects are affecting not only the fishermen, but also residents of the area,” he said.
“We have 1,000 requests for lands and houses in the area, but no more space to build them.
“I will raise this issue with His Majesty King Hamad. The Al Dair and Samaheej people are suffering from this reclamation and we don’t have enough lands to live on, and build schools, entertainment complexes or parks for people.
“The reclamation projects are for the benefit of Bahrain’s economy, but it shouldn’t affect the people. They are a priority.”
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