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The Old Doha Port Fishing Competition returns for its third edition on May 13-16, bringing together teams from across Qatar for four days of competitive fishing in Qatar’s waters. Recognised as the largest fishing competition of its kind, this year’s edition follows the Ministry of Transport’s announcement on the full resumption of maritime navigation for all types of vessels.This year’s edition features the competition’s most valuable prize lineup to date, reflecting its continued growth and rising profile. The top three teams will each receive a vehicle: a GWM Tank 500 for first place, a GWM Tank 300 for second, and a Haval H9 for third.The fourth-place winner will receive a boat provided by Haloul Boat Factory. Teams placing fifth to tenth will be awarded cash prizes.Teams will depart from Old Doha Port to compete for the largest Kingfish (“Kanad”), with winners determined by the weight of the catch. The three-day competition begins with the teams’ departure before sunset on Wednesday (May 13) and concludes with the judging and awards ceremony on the evening of Saturday (May 16) at Old Doha Port.More than a sporting event, the competition celebrates Qatar’s rich maritime heritage. It also brings a contemporary competitive spirit to long-standing traditions led by “Nukhatha”, traditional boat captains, in line with Old Doha Port’s vision to preserve and promote the nation’s seafaring legacy.Registration will take place daily until May 10 at Doha Marine Sports Club, from 9am to 4pm. To complete registration, participants must call +97455734539. Teams must be led by a Qatari captain (Nukhatha), while residents may participate as team members.A completed entry form, valid identification for all team members, and a valid boat registration are required. 

HE the Minister of Municipality Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah al-Attiyah met Tuesday with a host of fishermen to explore the challenges facing the fishing sector and ways to advance this sector in pursuit of increasing domestic production and achieving self-sufficiency. The ministry highly prioritizes the fishing sector as part of its strategy to achieve sustainable development and is working to execute integrated plans and programs to optimize fishermen's working environment, in addition to having infrastructure and services in place to back these activities, al-Attiyah highlighted. Al-Attiyah further outlined that the ministry has been committed to constantly reaching out to fishermen and listening to their suggestions and feedback onsite to ensure the enforcement of practical solutions that help elevate domestic production efficiency from fish and enhance the quality of national products in alignment with the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030. The meeting was part of a series of the ministry's meetings with a variety of partners in the food security system within an all-hands-on-deck approach that promotes integration between public and private sectors to achieve self-sufficiency from farm, livestock, and seafood products.

Three fishermen went missing while eight others were rescued after a fishing boat sank off the coast of Cua Viet in Quang Tri Province (central Vietnam) today, due to storms and strong waves caused by Typhoon Bualoi in Vietnam. Local authorities reported that a boat carrying four fishermen completely sank. One of them managed to swim to shore, while the other three were lost at sea. Another boat carrying seven fishermen broke down and was pushed into a breakwater by waves. According to Vietnam's National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, Typhoon Bualoi made landfall this morning in the sea between Quang Tri and Da Nang, packing winds of 118–133 kilometers per hour and waves exceeding seven meters in height, amid warnings of extremely dangerous sea conditions. Coastal waters from Thanh Hoa to Quang Ngai, including islands such as Con Co and Ly Son, are expected to experience increasingly strong winds, ranging from level 6–9, and waves reaching up to seven meters amid extremely dangerous sea conditions.

Nomas Center continues to offer training courses dedicated to teaching the art of sea fishing, one of the most important traditional professions linked to Qatar’s history and rich maritime heritage.This is part of its programmes aimed at instilling authentic values in the hearts of young people and introducing them to the heritage of their forefathers.The course aims to introduce young participants to the basics of marine fishing, starting with knowledge of traditional fishing tools and how to use them, moving on to the art of sailing and safety at sea, and finally to sound environmental practices that ensure the sustainability of marine resources.Trainees also learn the art of casting nets, how to select fishing spots, and how to deal with ocean currents and weather changes.The course pays special attention to practical aspects, with trainees spending time at sea under the supervision of experienced instructors, providing a realistic experience resembling that of fishermen of the past. Theoretical activities are combined with folk stories and narratives that reflect the suffering, patience, and co-operation of ancient fishermen in facing the challenges of the sea.This course is organised in line with Nomas Center’s mission to promote authentic Qatari identity, connect new generations to their national heritage, and instil in them life skills and values such as patience and teamwork.The course witnessed a growing turnout from participants, who emphasised the importance of these programmes in deepening children’s connection to their roots.

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change's Marine Protection Department has carried out a field operation to remove abandoned fishing gear from a coral reef fishing ground in the country’s eastern local waters, as part of the efforts to protect the marine environment and preserve biodiversity. The operation resulted in the retrieval of fishing nets and traps from a depth of 14m. They posed a danger to marine life and threatened the ecological balance of the surrounding marine environment, a statement added.

In the aquatic realm of the Gulf, amid its waves and currents, and ranging from near the surface to the depths, the kingfish reigns supreme in excellence and beauty.It is far more than a mere fish, it is a living legend, embodying power, speed, and majesty in its most sublime form, with a torpedo-like sleek body and a lustrous silver sheen that mirrors the pride of the sea.This fish narrates an eternal tale of survival, endowed with astonishing abilities. Its extraordinary speed renders it an unparalleled hunter, striking like an arrow to seize its prey with pinpoint precision, while its exceptional manoeuvring skills allow it to evade any danger in a flash, leaving adversaries bewildered and stunned.The kingfish ranges in length from 50 to 150 centimetres and can weigh up to 35 kilograms in exceptional cases, with females generally larger, particularly in advanced stages of life.Strikingly, it is a symbol of hospitality and the essence of maritime heritage, occupying a premium standing in luxurious feasts during occasions. However, to ensure the preservation of this maritime wealth, colossal efforts are being undertaken to regulate fishing practices and place restrictions on the sizes of fish that are allowed to be caught, as long as the increasing demand for kingfish punches well above its stockpile weight, triggering stringent surveillance to ensure sustainability.Accordingly, the Ministry of Municipality, represented by the Fisheries Department, has recently announced the launch of the kingfish fishing ban season from Aug 15 to Oct 15, 2025. Based on the decision, the use of gill nets for fishing is prohibited, and the trade and transport of such nets are also banned, while only line fishing is permitted.Qatar News Agency reached out to Director of the Fisheries Department Abdulaziz al-Dehaimi, who outlined the key objective of this annual ban, stressing that it primarily intends to protect fish stocks and ensure sustainability in the Qatari marine habitat, as this kind of fish is one of the critical economic species.Dehaimi further added that the ban offers an opportunity for fish recovery and for augmenting the stock to remain abundant for the next generations, affirming that the ban duration is two months based on scientific studies and monitoring data, which confirmed that halting the use of gill nets during this period enhances the reproduction of the kingfish, offering the new generations enough time to grow and ultimately elevate the total stock.The department's surveillance operators and the competent judicial authorities vested with this mission are monitoring the situation daily to ensure people are abiding by this decision and other regulatory rules through inspections of fishing boats and ports, Dehaimi highlighted.Dehaimi stressed that financial and administrative penalties are imposed on violators in accordance with the provisions of Law No. 4 of 1983 on the exploitation and protection of marine resources.He indicated that the department has been committed to launching awareness programmes for fishermen and the public through media campaigns and workshops to highlight the significance of the ban and the measures regulating fisheries, in addition to engaging local media outlets in disseminating the awareness messages.He stressed that the department gives foremost priority to this kind of fish and other species in collaboration with the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) states, to bolster co-ordinated efforts by sharing data and expertise through the GCC's Standing Fisheries Committee, under the umbrella of the FAO-affiliated Regional Commission for Fisheries (RECOFI), to ensure that unified fishing ban seasons are proposed to strengthen the sustainability of shared fish stockpiles throughout the Gulf region.Periodic studies are conducted annually by the department to assess kingfish stockpiles alongside 36 other marine species. These assessments measure biomass and estimate the appropriate fishing effort to secure maximum sustainable yield, Dehaimi highlighted.He said the results have consistently shown a marked improvement in the abundance of these stockpiles in recent years, underscoring the effectiveness of the ban in meeting its objectives.Kingfish, members of the mackerel family and close relatives of tuna, rank among the fastest pelagic fish, he added, affirming that they can sustain high speeds over extended periods without significant energy depletion, at times reaching up to 60km per hour.The Arabian Gulf stands as one of the world's foremost habitats for kingfish. Its warm, relatively shallow waters create ideal conditions for growth and reproduction. They are also native to the Arabian Sea and the Red Sea, while the Gulf of Oman functions as a vital corridor for their migration between the Indian Ocean and the Gulf, where vast numbers converge during seasonal movements, Dehaimi outlined.Kingfish are among the richest natural reservoirs of essential nutrients, boasting a balanced composition of high-quality proteins, healthy fats, and vital vitamins and minerals indispensable to human health, making them an ideal choice for those pursuing a wholesome and well-balanced diet. (QNA)