Qatar Territorial Sea

To establish national marine boundaries.

Species of Concern: multiple

Restrictions

Qatar has sovereign rights for the purpose of exploring and exploiting, conserving and managing the natural resources, whether living or non-living, of these waters. Fishing restrictions, such as bag limits, seasons, and size restrictions apply. Please consult the local fishing laws, some of which are referenced on this page, for more information.

1. Fishing of living aquatic resources during reproduction and spawning is prohibited. Fishing in prohibited locations or during closed seasons, or harvesting any prohibited living aquatic resources is also not allowed.
2. Fishing trawlers shall not be used at depths under 25 metres. The use of spinning gill nets by the turkish method (bottom nets), in areas with a depth of more than ten (10) meters, throughout the year, is also prohibited. These nets must have a mesh size between 1-51mm.
3. Fishing near petroleum or military establishments or any other areas determined by the Fisheries Department is prohibited.
4. It is prohibited to use harpoons (Neezah) during the breeding season (December through April).
5. The use of nets whose meshes are below the listed size is prohibited: (a) seines under 40mm; (b) shrimp nets under 33mm; (c) floating nets, one layer, under 40mm; (d) pelagic trawls under 20mm; (e) bottom-set nets under 40mm; (f) fish barriers under 40mm; (g) drift nets under 40mm; (h) trammel nets (2 exterior layers) under 80mm; and (i) fyke nets under 40mm.
6. The use of methods that cause mass extermination of living aquatic resources such as poisons, explosives, chemical substances, electrical means, and any other like method is prohibited.
7. Collecting eggs from marine birds and aquatic turtles from islands and coasts without approval from the Fisheries Department is prohibited.
8. The following size limits apply to the listed species: (a) Greasy Grouper (Hamour) - 20cm; (b) brown-marbled grouper (Bartamah) - 25cm; (c) areolate grouper (Qatwa) - 25cm; (d) coral grouper (Shaninoh) - 20cm; (e) malabar trevally (Zubaidi Sala) - 14cm; (f) golden trevally (Rabib) - 14cm; (g) black-banded trevally (Hammam) - 17cm; (h) bludger trevally (Jish) - 16cm; (i) tille trevally (Karari) - 15cm; (j) yellow-spotted trevally (Farkh Al-Ib) - 14cm; (k) slender queenfish (Basar) - 15cm; (l) white-spotted rabbitfish (Safi Arabic) - 15cm; (m) streaked spinefoot (Safi Sunaifi) - 20cm; (n) bowen snapper (Alnihash Buyn) - 15cm; (o) goldlined seabream (Qarqafan) - 13cm; (p) red sea seabream (Mejwa) - 13cm (q) twobar seabream (Fiskar) - 16cm (r) Hong Kong seabream (Shaam) - 16cm; (s) emperor fish (Shaari) - 17cm; (t) trumpet emperor (Soli) - 17cm; (u) narrow-barred Spanish mackerel (Almakril Alasbaniu Aldayiq) - 30 cm; (v) Indo-Pacific king mackerel (Khabat) - 30cm; (w) yellowstriped goatfish (Maeiz Safra) - 14cm; (x) Moses snapper (Nisr) - 17cm; (y) humphead snapper (Hambid Alnihash) - 15cm; (z) threadfin bream (Bassey) - 18cm; (aa) bluespot mullet (Biluzbut Alburiu) - 18cm; (ab) largescale mullet (Bayah Safti) - 20cm; (ac) common silver-biddy (Badah) - 16cm; (ad) pickhandle barracuda (Mueawal Albarakuda) - 25cm; (ae) cobia (Alkubya) - 25cm; (af) blue-barred parrotfish (Babagha' 'Azraq) - 16cm; (ag) three-banded sweetlips (Thalathat Swilibs Alnitaqat) - 17cm; (ah) slipper lobster (Umm Al-Rubyan) - 15cm; (ai) European squid (Alhibar Al'uwrubiyu) - 15cm; (aj) giant catfish (Samak Alsuluwr Aleimlaq) - 20cm.
9. Dive fishing during the evening period from after sunset until dawn is prohibited.
10. The use of compressed air during fishing, as either a weapon or compressed air cylinders to breathe when hunting, is prohibited.
11. The taking, relocating, or damaging of marine species, like shellfish and coral reefs, is prohibited.
12. It is prohibited to fish or carry away eggs of marine birds and aquatic turtles from islands and coasts without the approval of the Fisheries Department.

Allowed

1. Fishing, by nationals and foreign vessels, requires a license from the Fisheries Department, except when fishing by line. All specifications within the license must be followed.
2. The following activities require special permission from the Fisheries Department: (a) erect or build any barriers or barricades that may hinder the free movement of living aquatic resources; (b) extricate or utilize any marine weeds and plants that are useful for aquatic organisms; (c) use gill nets and other fixed fishing gear in shallow waters; and (d) use any kind of underwater fishing harpoon-guns.
3. Living aquatic resources shall be sold only in markets or places that satisfy hygienic and commercial requirements specified by enacted laws and regulations. Foreign vessels entering harbour can only sell or market aquatic resources with a license.
4. Fishing vessel owners must maintain a fishing logbook onboard. If vessels contain live aquatic resources, they must remain clean throughout the trip, and be eqipped with suitable electric refrigerators or heat-insulating boxes with a thickness of not less than (10) centimeters, refrigerated automatically, or with crushed ice that conforms to the specifications approved in the state.
5. The use of fixed traps with wire cages are limited to 2411 meters long and eight (8) meters tall, with a mesh size not exceeding 41mm. Anchor nets must be superficial, and not in contact with the sea floor.
6. The fishing season for Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel is closed from 15 August to 15 October. During open season, this fish may be caught using nets.