Ongoing efforts to protect the marine environment in the Kingdom
As part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's ongoing efforts to preserve its natural resources and protect its marine environment, the Coast Guard patrols in Al-Qunfudhah Governorate, Makkah Region, announced the arrest of four Egyptian residents. The arrests were made due to their violation of maritime safety regulations, as they were fishing without the necessary permits. A quantity of illegally caught fish was found in their possession.
As soon as the violators were apprehended, the necessary legal procedures were taken against them in full coordination with the competent authorities, in order to apply the penalties stipulated in the regulations in force in the Kingdom, which aim to deter such practices that are harmful to the marine environment.
General context: Protecting ecosystems within Vision 2030
This incident occurs within the broader context of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 objectives, which place great emphasis on environmental protection and the sustainability of natural resources. The Red Sea, on which Al-Qunfudhah Governorate borders, is a unique environmental treasure, renowned for its rich biodiversity and rare coral reefs that are home to thousands of marine organisms. Overfishing and unregulated fishing pose a direct threat to this delicate ecosystem, leading to the depletion of fish stocks, the destruction of fish breeding grounds, and the disruption of the delicate ecological balance.
The importance and impact of regulating fishing
Requiring fishing permits is not a bureaucratic procedure, but a vital regulatory tool aimed at the sustainable management of fisheries resources. These permits allow relevant authorities to monitor the number of fishermen, determine fishing seasons and species, and prevent the use of tools and practices harmful to coral reefs and endangered species. At the local level, this regulation ensures the protection of the livelihoods of legitimate fishermen who depend on the sustainability of fish stocks. At the regional and international levels, the Kingdom's efforts to protect its coasts contribute to maintaining the health of the Red Sea ecosystem as a whole, which is of global importance due to its unique biological characteristics.
A call for social responsibility
The Border Guard reiterated its call to all citizens and residents to adhere to the regulations and instructions related to protecting living aquatic resources. It also urged everyone to cooperate and immediately report any practices that may constitute an attack on the environment or wildlife. Such cases can be reported by calling the unified number (911) in the Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, and Eastern regions, or the numbers (994), (999), and (996) in the rest of the Kingdom. It is emphasized that all reports will be treated with complete confidentiality and without any legal liability on the part of the reporter.
