The Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture has worked to improve the services it offers fishermen over the last five years. As part of this effort, the Ministry has been building and modernizing the fishing industry's infrastructure to raise Bahrain's fishing ports to a level suitable for the needs of the industry's workers.
Over the past five years, the Ministry has developed a comprehensive plan to enhance fishing ports in a manner that reflects the long-standing heritage of the fishing profession in Bahrain and meets its infrastructural requirements. Additionally, an integrated plan for maintaining the ports' upkeep and service quality has been devised.
With 11 ports spread throughout all the Kingdom's governorates, the Ministry has started putting its port development plan into action.
While there are numerous docking sites across the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Agriculture and Marine Resources Agency focuses its development strategy specifically on the fishing ports under its jurisdiction. Accordingly, the Agency distinguishes between docking sites located in coastal villages or areas, and those managed by the private sector, versus the officially designated fishing ports under its direct administration.
The Kingdom’s fishing ports are equipped with a wide range of dedicated services designed to meet the needs of fishermen. These include designated gathering spaces for fishermen and fishermen’s associations, prayer areas, public restrooms, shops selling fishing supplies, specialized garages for boat engine repairs, ice production facilities, fuel stations, and boat ramps for the launching and retrieval of registered fishing vessels. Additionally, the ports house offices for Marine Inspection Directorate officers, Coast Guard command towers and offices, as well as round-the-clock security services. Cleaning services are also provided free of charge at all fishing ports.
In support of local fishermen, the Ministry has established several dedicated fish markets at select fishing ports, including Al Hidd, Al Budaiya, and Duraz. Work is currently underway to construct additional fish markets at the Askar and Zallaq ports. These initiatives aim to empower Bahraini fishermen by providing them with appropriate platforms to offer and sell high-quality fish, along with the provision of fish stalls at nominal rental rates as a form of encouragement and support.
This addition to the fishing ports is the result of ongoing coordination between the Ministry, municipal councils, and the Fishermen’s Association. The initial experience of establishing a fish market at Al Hidd Port received widespread approval and positive feedback, which prompted the Ministry to adopt this initiative as one of its port development strategies—implementing it whenever conditions allow, and sufficient space is available.
The Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture has worked to give fishermen the best services possible, and it has also worked to include the private sector in the privatization process of ports in a way that is compatible with the process of developing services for these essential and significant facilities. One example of this is the establishment of gas stations inside the ports for ship fueling, by way of a collaboration with the private sector.
The Ministry is working to improve and expand the vessel corridor to make it easier for fishermen to move between ports. It is also working to create a smooth surface for boats to navigate into and out of the sea, as well as side concrete barriers that give the greatest possible amount of space for stopping boats and a concrete ladder that lets fishermen get in and out of the water.
The ministry has also established parking facilities to serve users of the fishing harbors, taking into account the capacity to accommodate the largest possible number of vehicles and ensuring the smooth drainage of rainwater. Additionally, lighting fixtures have been installed, curbstones laid to create pedestrian walkways, and existing canopies have been renovated or new ones constructed to provide shaded areas that facilitate the fishermen’s work and allow them to carry out regular maintenance of their fishing equipment and gear.
The Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture is still working to develop the ports in a way that improves services and is consistent with the needs of port workers and visitors. The addition of markets to several ports has increased their economic and recreational value.
The development of fishing harbors is one of the key foundations of the ministry’s food security strategy, given the essential role this profession plays in providing a primary source of food for the people of Bahrain, as well as its deep historical ties to the Bahraini community.