Decision of the Board of Directors of the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi No. 4 of 2023 regarding the regulation of recreational fishing in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

This Resolution consisting of 9 articles aims to support recreational fishing activities and promote marine sports fishing and applies to both recreational fishing practitioners and organizers of marine fishing competitions in the waters of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Article 3: (i) prohibits recreational fishing and the organization of marine fishing competitions in the Emirate's waters without a permit from the Authority; (ii) permits the use of marine hunting rifles for free diving or any other method specified by the Authority, alongside previously allowed equipment such as lines and rods. Articles 4 and 5 outline the conditions for obtaining recreational fishing and fishing competition licenses. Article 6 outlines the following provisions concerning the licensee's obligations as follows (i) adhere to the Authority's specified terms and conditions in the fishing license or marine fishing competition permit, including limits on the number of people, trips, fishing sites, types and numbers of fish, environmental requirements, and health and safety standards; (ii) when using a marine fishing rifle, the internationally recognized diving flag must be worn; (iii) at least three people (a driver and two licensed shotgun fishers) must be on board when fishing with a shotgun; (iv) a detailed report on the types and quantities of fish and other aquatic resources caught must be submitted to the Authority after the fishing trip; (v) disposal of fish or aquatic resources while sailing is prohibited until returning to land or arriving at a designated mooring or landing area; (vi) selling or keeping live aquatic resources for ornamental purposes is also prohibited. Regarding the types and quantities allowed in recreational fishing, the Resolution mandates compliance with existing legislation prohibiting catching, selling, and marketing fish below permissible size limits and regulating fishing according to specified lengths and seasons. The daily catch is limited to 24 fish per person and per pleasure boat, as listed in the attached Schedule. It also prohibited the fishing, trading, keeping, or harming of certain aquatic species, including brush fish, yellow echinoderms, red corals, seahorses, parrot fish, sharks, minnows, sea turtles, whales, dolphins, dugongs, and coral reefs.