DAMMAM, 15 June 2003 — A new law in the Eastern Province is likely to result in 3,000 fishing boats ceasing operations in the Arabian Gulf.

A government panel has instructed boat owners to employ at least one Saudi in every boat that is 12 meters or longer.

The move is part of the government’s efforts to create more job opportunities for Saudis in all sectors. The unemployment rate among Saudis could be higher than 20 percent, but official statistics put the figure at less than 10 percent.

The new law states that fishing boats with a length of 12 meters will not be allowed to put out to sea unless at least one Saudi is employed on the boat. The law also restricts shrimp fishing to boat owners who are already in the business.

Sources told Arab News that the panel has also decided that owners could only sell their fishing boats two years after the issuance of their licenses.

However, it allows owners of six-meter-long boats to buy new boats of 12 meters in length. Owners can purchase a 12-meter-boat after canceling the licenses of two old and smaller boats.

Boat owners say that the new rules and conditions will obstruct their activities. They said they had been exempted from Saudization in the past due to the non-availability of trained Saudis to work on fishing boats.

Maj. Gen. Abdul Rahman Al-Ibrahim, commander of the Border Guards in the province, told Arab News that there was coordination between the Ministry of Agriculture and the General Organization for Technical Education and Vocational Training to train Saudi fishermen.

The fisheries department in the region earlier presented a report to authorities on the difficulty of Saudizing jobs in fishing boats as many Saudis are not willing to take up jobs in the sector. The Border Guards, however, insist on Saudization of the jobs for security reasons. But the fishermen said the new decision comes at a time when there is not a single Saudi experienced in fishing or operating boats.

“This is a difficult job and most young Saudis will not be willing to do it,” one said. At present the majority of Saudi fishermen are elderly.

Al-Ibrahim said his department had already contacted the Manpower Development Fund to support the training of Saudi fishermen. Border Guards have banned 450 boats from fishing in line with the new regulations.