It's time for fishermen in the Eastern Province to rejoice: The six-month ban on trawling for shrimps, in effect from Feb. 1 to July 31, is finally lifted. The ban was imposed to facilitate an increase in shrimp production through natural breeding. More than 10,000 fishermen in the Eastern Province are getting ready for the six-month-long shrimp harvest season. These fishermen, for the past two months or so, kept themselves busy repairing their equipment and fishing boats in preparation for the shrimping season. Expatriate fishermen from India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, who take a six-month vacation during the ban period, have already returned to the Kingdom to join in the seasonal work. Fishermen from the Indian subcontinent are skilled in shrimping with special nets and other equipment. Around 1,500 large boats and several small yachts are ready in the harbors of Jubail, Dammam, Qatif, Ras Tanura and Darrein in the Eastern Province. Abu Ali, a long-time fisherman who specializes in catching shrimp, said the six-month ban period has proved to be a great success. “The breeding period really helps us to catch big shrimps which fetch good prices,” he said. There are six different types of shrimp available in the Arabian Gulf, with the giant black shrimp being the most highly prized. According to a fisherman in the Qatif area, where the wholesale shrimp market is located, the ideal time for shrimping is during the night until dawn. Authorities have warned fishermen to use only approved equipment for shrimping and to abide by all the instructions issued by the ministry in this regard. Personnel from the Border Guard will monitor and control the movement of fishermen in the gulf. Shrimp lovers are also eagerly awaiting the harvest season as prices are expected to go down to as low as SR10 per kg. Currently farm bred shrimps are sold for SR30 to SR45 per kg according to size and variety.
