DAMMAM: The Border Guard in the Eastern Province has said that between five and seven fishing vessels are stopped every week for illegal practices. Spokesman Muhammad Al-Ghamdi said that typical offenses were fishing in prohibited areas, using illegal nets, and casting nets in shipping lanes. “Some of these practices are dangerous, but are motivated out of the search for areas where fish are most abundant,” Al-Ghamdi said. “Vessels sometimes trespass into regional waters where larger numbers and a greater variety of catch is found.” Offenses related to the type of catch are taken up by the fish wealth authorities while issues concerning prohibited zones are dealt with under border security regulations, he said.
