Sudanese fishermen protest intense Egyptian fishing

Fishermen in Sudan’s Red Sea state have rejected a new agreement that allows Egyptian dredge fishing on the Sudanese Red Sea coast. “The state government’s agreement will lead to a catastrophe.”

Speaking to Radio Dabanga, activist Omar Hashim Khalifa said that the union of fishermen has demonstrated and called on the Red Sea state government to repeal its decision. He said that a number of Egyptian fishing dredges and other large equipment have so far arrived in the area. Khalifa suspects that these will be used for fishing.

The use of fishing dredges could cause the destruction of coral reefs, deplete fish stocks, and cause serious harm to the marine environment. Experts have warned of the consequences of the pollution of the Sudanese coast environment by such intense fishery as fishing dredges.

Also harmful to the marine environment are the random fishing and the use of prohibited fishing methods, experts say.