JEDDAH — A source at the cooperative fishermen committee of the Western Province has cautioned that Red Sea production of fish has declined by 70 percent, Al-Eqtisadiah newspaper reported. This reduction is caused by sewage water pollution, bridging the coastline, greenhouse effect, lack of rains, and the migration of fish to nearby countries. Khalid Al-Shuwaiki, the committee's general manager, said that studies conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture have indicated that no fish will be available at the Red Sea coast in ten years time. The reduction of fish will reach 90 percent next year on one of the world's longest shorelines which extends to 2,000 kms. He pointed out that the income of Jeddah's fish market is in excess of SR1 billion, and he expects that 100 percent of fish will be imported in the near future. He said that there are around 20,000 fishermen, of which Saudis account for 30-40 percent, but that number is on the decline, and expatriate fishermen are leaving the country. He expects that this profession will become extinct, as it is a dangerous profession, while workers salaries do not exceed SR3,000. These salaries are not guaranteed every month, as the fishing season extends for seven months only. He added that there are Saudization possibilities in the sea port, navigation, and fish farms. Salem Al-Thahri, businessman and member of the committee, said that fishermen face many problems, the most prominent of which is the lack of workers, and the ban of fishermen visas. He said that there are between 100-150 boats, and the number of Saudi fishermen is only 20 in Mastourah sea area, and the rest are expatriate workers. He pointed out that the high cost of fish is due to the primitive means used in fishing. These means do not allow for deep sea fishing, in addition to the control that expatiates have on boats where they allow fishing for only three days a week. He expects fish prices to remain at their current level, and that local fish is the most expensive where prices range between SR50-SR100. Sami Al-Mohammad a fisherman, asked the concerned bodies to construct an anchorage in Rabigh and Mastourah areas. He also called for reducing the Saudization quota in the fishing sector, and added that fishermen have many expenditures to meet, while their income is not always guaranteed.
