By BASMA MOHAMMED
STRIKING fishermen yesterday rejected a government plea to go back to sea to put food on people’s tables.
They said they had suffered too much and it would take a personal promise by Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa to solve their problems, before they would even consider going back.
The rejection came as fishermen’s leaders met Municipalities and Agricultural Affairs Minister Dr Juma Al Ka’abi at his office.
It is understood he urged the Fishermen’s Protection Society to call off the strike to provide fish for the nation with a promise to take their demands direct to the Premier.
“We told the minister the decision was not up to us. The fishermen have endured enough and will not stop their strike until they get a formal confirmation to meet their demands,” said society secretary-general Abdulameer Al Mughani.
“We explained that if the fishermen were comforted by the Premier that their demands will be met, they might stop the strike.”
Ministry officials could not be reached for comment.
More than 200 Bahraini fishermen staged a demonstration yesterday as they stepped up their demands to rescue their crippled industry.
The demonstration was organised by the society at its premises in Muharraq.
More than 1,700 fishermen began an indefinite nationwide strike on Sunday.
It is spearheaded by the society in collaboration with the Bahraini Fishermen’s Trade Union and the local fish importers.
The strike follows a string of demonstrations organised by the society at its premises in Muharraq over the past few months seeking compensation for lost income and for action to revive and protect the industry.
Fishermen say massive land reclamation over the last five years has robbed them of up to 80 per cent of their income.
They want compensation to enable them to support their families and also want their ports and fisheries protected from future developments under the country’s Economic Vision 2030 masterplan.
Fishermen also want exemption from the BD10 monthly fee imposed by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) for each expatriate they employ.
However, they say they are ready to withdraw their demand to scrap the BD200 biennial labour fee.
Society Honorary president Waheed Al Dossary said several demonstrations and meetings would be held to intensify their campaign.
“We will not stop until our demands are met. Enough is enough,” he said.
This is the fifth demonstration organised by the society in Muharraq.
The first demonstration was broken up by police on June 1 but 60 fishing dhows and 35 small fishing boats stayed in port during a subsequent strike.
On June 18, fishermen demonstrated in front of the society’s premises in Muharraq.
The third protest was held on August 31 when more than 170 fishermen and their supporters demonstrated outside the society’s premises. Similar protests have been held in the Seef district.
The fourth protest was held on November 1, with hundreds of Bahraini fishermen protesting over the BD10 monthly fee imposed by the LMRA for each expatriate worker.
The society will today stage their sixth demonstration at the Sitra Jetty, at 9 am after visiting the Sitra Central Fish Market to check whether any fish is illicitly on sale.
The fishermen have surrendered their licences to the fisheries directorate and say they will only take them back once their demands have been met.