Qatar’s Fisheries Department, under the Ministry of Municipality, plans to release approximately 7 million fish fingerlings into local waters by the end of 2026 as part of an ongoing initiative to enhance fish stocks, promote marine resource sustainability, and boost the country’s aquatic sector. According to department director Abdulaziz Mohamed al-Duhaimi, about 3 million fingerlings have already been released this year, with another 4 million scheduled before the year’s close.
This restocking programme aims to support the recovery of key fish species and improve overall marine productivity. The Aquatic Research Centre, operating under the Fisheries Department, produced over 9.5 million fingerlings in 2025, including 8.2 million fish fingerlings of species such as grouper, spangled emperor, safi, seabream, and Blonde ray, alongside 1.3 million shrimp fingerlings. Selected species have been released into Qatar’s coastal waters to replenish stocks.
The department highlighted grouper as a notable success, with production doubling since the programme’s launch in 2020—from around 1,000 tonnes annually to more than 2,000 tonnes in 2025. The impact of fingerling releases has been evaluated through production data and feedback from fishermen and marine users. Additionally, a genetic tracking project employing DNA fingerprinting is underway to accurately assess the contribution of restocked fingerlings to overall fish production.
Plans to diversify released species include introducing Sordid Rubberlip and Parrotfish, whose populations have declined and whose replenishment could enhance biodiversity and local fisheries’ sustainability.
Qatar maintains four fishermen’s ports—Al Wakrah, Al Khor, Al Thakhira, and Al Ruwais—with about 1,100 berths equipped with essential services such as water, electricity, and firefighting systems. Infrastructure upgrades, including development of Al Wakrah Port and channel deepening at Al Thakhira Port, are expected to commence in early 2027.
The country currently licenses roughly 502 fishing vessels and 813 fishing boats. Each license stipulates permitted gear types, adhering to regulations designed to manage fishing activities responsibly and protect fish stocks.
Regulatory measures have also supported species recovery. A notable example is the annual 45-day ban on capturing kingfish with gillnets during their breeding season, which contributed to a 73% increase in average annual production over recent years—from 1,839 tonnes (2013–2015) to 3,181 tonnes (2023–2025), reaching 3,484 tonnes in 2025. Al-Duhaimi emphasized that these improvements result from a comprehensive management system rather than isolated actions.
Restrictions on bottom trawling and other practices harmful to seabed habitats, juvenile fish, and non-target species remain in place to protect shrimp breeding and nursery areas and to reduce pressure on marine ecosystems during critical life stages. The Fisheries Department also conducts regular inspection and monitoring campaigns at sea and in fishing ports. Violations are formally recorded, with legal penalties applied based on offense type, severity, and recurrence.
Overall, Qatar continues to implement integrated approaches to foster sustainable fisheries management and safeguard marine biodiversity in its territorial waters.