Public water sports and fishing facilities are being planned for the Manama coastline in Bahrain.

The Capital Trustees Board is spearheading the initiative, which would mean water sports enthusiasts no longer have to join private clubs, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

It is currently negotiating with the Works, Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Ministry and the Youth and Sport Affairs Ministry to allocate coastal plots for such facilities.

The idea is to also accommodate Manama's professional fishermen, who do not have a mooring at existing jetties, at new facilities yet to be created.

"The issue of amateur fishermen and maritime sportsmen, who are not part of clubs or officially licensed to fish, is a bit complicated since they are not on any records," said board chairman Mohammed Al Khozaae.

"It means their equipment - whether boats, jet skis or otherwise - and their presence on the water or at private or government plots is unauthorised, since the Coastguard has to be informed.

"Amateur fishermen and maritime sportsmen have every right to recreation at reasonable rates and should not be forced to join private clubs.

"For that, we are working to create special areas at existing and new jetties for them, which will be completely different in concept and facilities than those used by professionals.

"We are working on other options such as transferring ownership of coastal plots to the Youth and Sport Affairs Ministry on the basis that it will be used for sport."

However, the proposal would require anyone using the new facilities to register there and pay minimal fees - as well as state the times they intend to use the facilities for Coastguard reference.

"We don't want any illegal activities at sea and the Coastguard has every right to know who goes out," said Al Khozaae.

"There is also the issue of safety and security."

The proposal to create ports for all professional fishermen in Manama currently without a mooring involves the creation of five new jetties.

"We can't have the government build 20 jetties for BD5m each," explained Al Khozaae.

"We have suggested five jetties that would serve 20 areas.

"The Works, Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Ministry has agreed to the idea and will come up with initial designs for the jetties, pending budget approval.

"But it is the issue of amateur water sports enthusiasts and fishermen that will take time, since the recreation or part-time concept is not something the government is used to." - TradeArabia News Service