المملكة: "the environment": 1.5 million riyals fine for whaling and 200 thousand for damaging coral – urgent

The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture approved a package of legislation to protect the marine and coastal environment, which included deterrent financial penalties reaching a maximum of one and a half million riyals, in a strategic step aimed at preserving natural resources and ensuring their sustainability for future generations.

The Ministry presented, via the “Estalaa” platform, the executive regulations for sustainable management of the marine and coastal environment, which aims to enhance the protection of the environment and wildlife and ensure compliance with relevant international standards and agreements.

Whaling fine. And damaging coral reefs

Million-dollar fines topped the scene as the most powerful tool to deter attacks on large fungal organisms, as the executive regulations stipulated a fine of one million five hundred thousand riyals for anyone who For hunting sperm whales, while a fine of one million riyals was set for hunting dugongs and whale sharks, and half a million riyals for hunting other types of whales, such as humpback whales and minke whales.

The regulation paid exceptional attention to coral reefs as they are the pillar of the marine ecosystem, imposing a fine of 200 thousand riyals for every cubic meter of hard or fragile coral that is destroyed, or calculating the fine. According to a special environmental compensation formula that depends on the area of the affected area and the years of recovery, with the highest value applied between them to ensure deterrence.

The new controls did not ignore the protection of sharks from overfishing, as they imposed fines ranging between 40,000 riyals and 100,000 riyals for catching specific species such as the “hammerhead” shark, the “tiger” shark, and the “oceanic whitetip” shark, in addition to a fine of 40,000 riyals for catching a bull shark.

It included Protection menu Microorganisms and molluscs, as a fine of 50,000 riyals was imposed on fishing for sea oysters, and 10,000 riyals for pearl oysters, while a fine of 10,000 riyals was set for each cubic meter of sponges, with the possibility of the estimate reaching 300,000 riyals depending on the size and type of the damaged organism.

Combat marine pollution

Within the framework of combating marine pollution, the regulations categorically prohibited the dumping or discharging of wastewater or any untreated liquid components into The marine and coastal environment, and it also prohibited the disposal of waste in all its forms in these areas, to ensure that the waters remain free of pollutants that threaten wildlife.

The competent authorities have placed strict restrictions on Fishing methods, as the use of explosives, toxic or narcotic materials in fishing operations is prohibited, and the use of spear guns in areas of coral reefs and marine reserves has been permanently prohibited to prevent harm to the sensitive environment.

The regulations obligated those practicing tourism activities related to interaction with fungal organisms in their natural environment to have a licensed and qualified tour guide, while prohibiting any interaction that leads to disturbing the organisms or changing their natural behavior without obtaining the necessary licenses.

The regulations carefully regulated the movement of marine vessels, prohibiting the dropping of anchors in areas of coral reefs and seagrass areas to avoid their destruction, and obliging ships and boats to specific routes and safe speeds within protected areas to reduce the risk of collision with marine mammals.

The regulations granted the inspection teams affiliated with the national centers broad powers to control violations, including boarding marine vessels and inspecting them, with an emphasis on doubling the fines in the event of a repeat violation, and requiring those responsible to remove the damage and pay the costs. Environmental rehabilitation.

The controls excluded cases of bycatch of prohibited organisms on the condition that they immediately take the initiative to re-release them into the sea while taking the necessary care for their safety, and the necessity of informing the competent authorities immediately in the event of their death or injury in order to document the case.

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