The Kuwaiti Gulf and food security

We periodically hear reports of fish die-offs and red tides, yet no solution to this problem comes into view. It is essential to pay attention to Kuwait Bay, regulate fishing there in terms of species and quantity, and possibly enlist foreign expertise to assist with scientific studies and recommendations aimed at increasing fish stocks, while preserving the quality of the bay’s waters free from any pollutants that hinder fish population growth.

All industrial facilities, including power plants and desalination stations, located along the shores of Kuwait Bay must be identified, and it must be ensured that their operations do not affect water quality or temperature, and that no hot water or chemical discharges are released into the bay that would alter its composition.

Sewage effluent and various runoff also impact the environmental condition of Kuwait Bay and its capacity for natural water flushing, which takes 65 days. The bay covers an area of 720 to 750 square kilometers, with an average depth of 5 meters. At its entrance, the depth reaches 23 meters, its perimeter extends 130 kilometers, and its length ranges from 35 to 48 kilometers.

Water samples must be taken daily to verify water quality, and fishing boat movements must be monitored to prevent the capture of small fish or those that have entered Kuwait Bay to spawn.