Saudi fisherman recalls lifetime in sector, love for working beyond shore

Mehdi Khalil began fishing and pearling under his uncle’s tutelage. Now, he focuses on big game fishing. (Supplied)
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Updated 21 November 2023
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Saudi fisherman recalls lifetime in sector, love for working beyond shore

  • Mehdi Khalil went fishing for the first time in 1981

RIYADH: Mehdi Khalil is something of a legend in Qatif fish market, the biggest in the region and second-largest in Asia.

He has devoted his life to fishing in the Arabian Gulf and, to mark World Fisheries Day, he spoke to Arab News about his life at sea.

It began when he went fishing for the first time in 1981, when he was a secondary school student.




Saudi Arabia initiated the National Fisheries Development Program in 2015 with the aim of enhancing the growth of the fisheries industry. (Supplied)

“My life was from school to the sea. I was enlightened by sea more than school. My life began when I bought my first boat,” he said.

After his father’s death, it fell to Khalil as the eldest child to fulfil his dad’s wishes and support the family by becoming a fisherman.

“I’m the oldest of my siblings. I did not want anyone to hold a single riyal over their head,” he added.

HIGHLIGHTS

• World Fisheries Day is observed on Nov. 21 and was designated by the UN to raise awareness of sustainable fishing practices and the need to end overfishing.

• Saudi Arabia initiated the National Fisheries Development Program in 2015 with the aim of enhancing the growth of the fisheries industry.

Khalil began fishing and pearling under his uncle’s tutelage. Now, he focuses on big game fishing.

His expeditions start with him, “first fueling my boat with gasoline and preparing the fridge with ice. Then I bring all the tools necessary, and I go to the sea. In 30 minutes, the fridge is full.”

His goal is always to fill 10 fridges that each hold around 16 kg of fish, giving him 160 kg to sell each time.




Saudi Arabia initiated the National Fisheries Development Program in 2015 with the aim of enhancing the growth of the fisheries industry. (SPA)

Khalil catches local favorites such as hamour (grouper), kanad (kingfish), safi (rabbitfish) and many types of shrimp. He noted that the best time to fish for kanad was at the end of the year, which coincided with the shrimp season. During that period, fishermen are only allowed to catch a single species.

When he was younger, Khalil’s daily routine was simply to go fishing to make a living. However, advances in technology have made the process far more efficient.

He said: “In the past, during hamour season, we used to catch the fish with a rod and a string. The hamour fish used to be SR40 ($10) to SR45, but today there is a shortage. The price is higher, and it has switched to dollars.”

Similar to many fishermen, Khalil operates in shallow waters using a qarqoor (fish trap), a device consisting of metal rods, wires, and net. He places many of these in an area and, on returning the next day, will find them teeming with his catch.

He pointed out that bread was ideal fish bait and should be used instead of more traditional lures such as dried fish, liquid bait, and smaller fish.

“For years, we used to use ooma (dried fish). With time the methods have changed. We use bread because it attracts the fish much better than dried fish,” he added.

But life as a fisherman can be dangerous. Khalil said: “I almost lost my life three times. I encountered danger when I was pearling. It was during a time when we would dive with just goggles and no other safety gear. I remember that day my uncle had warned me. He had said, ‘my intuition says don’t go today.’

“When I went down that day, I saw a baby shark. Luckily, he just passed by, and nothing happened. This happened to me three different times.”

World Fisheries Day is observed on Nov. 21 and was designated by the UN to raise awareness of sustainable fishing practices and the need to end overfishing.

Saudi Arabia initiated the National Fisheries Development Program in 2015 with the aim of enhancing the growth of the fisheries industry.

Mansour Al-Mushaiti, Saudi deputy minister of environment, water and agriculture, said the nation’s aquaculture output surpassed 120,000 tons in 2022. The Kingdom aims to raise its fish aquaculture output to about 500,000 tons in the future.

At the MedFish4Ever conference in Malta last month, Saudi Arabia announced its commitment to protecting sustainable fish stocks and the livelihoods of fishermen, as well as investing in aquaculture projects. The Kingdom also vowed to establish regulatory frameworks and management plans for its fishing industry.

Al-Mushaiti noted that Saudi Arabia had launched several initiatives to promote sustainable fishing practices. He added that the Kingdom was responsible for coordinating efforts to manage natural resources in the Red Sea as it had the largest coastal area among its neighbors.

 


OIC chief calls for increased efforts to support orphans

Updated 20 sec ago
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OIC chief calls for increased efforts to support orphans

  • Hissein Brahim Taha urges need to ensure rights to foster care, education, healthcare

Jeddah: Organization of Islamic Cooperation Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha highlighted the importance of improving efforts to support comprehensive care and sponsorship for orphans, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

He made the remarks on Orphan’s Day in the Islamic world, marked on the 15th of Ramadan each year, to raise global awareness about the hardships faced by orphaned children in the world’s poorest communities.

Taha called for greater efforts to protect and provide for orphans, particularly in disaster-stricken, conflict-affected and climate change-impacted areas, where displacement and refugee crises have left many children vulnerable.

He said that the OIC will remain committed to supporting millions of orphaned and vulnerable children, advocating for their rights and improved support systems, including orphanages, foster care, adoption services, healthcare and education.

Taha highlighted the need for governments, societies and institutions to take action to provide sustainable solutions, the SPA reported.

He underscored Islam’s strong emphasis, through the Qur’an and the Sunnah, on treating orphans with kindness, ensuring their care, education, healthcare and social well-being, safeguarding their rights and providing them with a proper upbringing.

Orphan’s Day was established through a resolution adopted by the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers during its 40th session in Conakry, Guinea, in December 2013, with the aim of raising awareness about the issues and needs of orphans.


KSrelief delivers food aid to thousands in need

Updated 5 min 7 sec ago
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KSrelief delivers food aid to thousands in need

  • KSrelief has recently delivered thousands of food parcels to some of the world’s most vulnerable people
  • KSrelief also delivered 25 tonnes of dates as part of the Kingdom’s global humanitarian support efforts

Riyadh: Saudi aid agency KSrelief has recently delivered thousands of food parcels to some of the world’s most vulnerable people, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

In Romania, KSrelief distributed 1,200 food baskets to families in Bucharest and Constanta as part of its Etaam Ramadan project, along with 250 food baskets in the villages of Al-Hamra and Abu Qudur in the Syrian Arab Republic, and 1,300 food baskets to families affected by floods in various regions of Pakistan.

Now in its fourth phase, the Etaam project aims to distribute 390,109 food parcels across 27 countries during Ramadan, benefiting 2.3 million people at a cost of more than SR67 million ($17.8 million).

KSrelief also delivered 25 tonnes of dates to The Gambia and 50 tonnes to Cote d’Ivoire, as well as 2,400 boxes of dates to 15,000 beneficiaries in the Seiyun district of Hadramout governorate, Yemen, as part of the Kingdom’s global humanitarian support efforts.


Thunderstorms forecast across Saudi Arabia until Monday 

Updated 23 min 49 sec ago
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Thunderstorms forecast across Saudi Arabia until Monday 

RIYADH: The public should exercise caution as thunderstorms are expected to continue across most regions of the Kingdom until Monday, the General Directorate of Civil Defense has said.

Residents are advised to stay in safe locations, avoid valleys and areas prone to flooding, and refrain from swimming in them, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Forecasts say the Makkah and Riyadh regions will experience moderate to heavy rainfall, leading to flash floods, hail, and strong downdrafts.

The Madinah, Asir, Hail and Qassim regions can expect moderate to heavy rain, while the Eastern Province will see moderate showers.

Light to moderate rainfall is also expected in Tabuk, Baha, Jazan and Najran.

The Civil Defense has urged the public to monitor official channels and social media platforms for the latest weather updates.


Kingdom arrests 23,865 illegals in one week

Updated 41 min 31 sec ago
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Kingdom arrests 23,865 illegals in one week

RIYADH: Saudi authorities arrested 23,865 people in one week for breaching residency, work and border security regulations, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

A total of 16,644 people were arrested for violations of residency laws, while 3,896 were held over illegal border crossing attempts, and a further 3,325 for labor-related issues.

The report showed that among the 1,432 people arrested for trying to enter the Kingdom illegally, 67 percent were Ethiopian, 29 percent Yemeni, and 4 percent were of other nationalities.

A further 97 people were caught trying to cross into neighboring countries, and 13 were held for involvement in transporting and harboring violators, the SPA reported.

The Ministry of Interior said that anyone found to be facilitating illegal entry to the Kingdom, including providing transportation and shelter, could face imprisonment for a maximum of 15 years, a fine of up to SR1 million ($260,000), as well as confiscation of vehicles and property.

Suspected violations can be reported on the toll-free number 911 in the Makkah and Riyadh regions, and 999 or 996 in other regions of the Kingdom.


How climate change is disrupting the Earth’s water cycle

Updated 15 March 2025
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How climate change is disrupting the Earth’s water cycle

  • Flash floods worldwide have claimed lives, displaced thousands, and destroyed infrastructure, with global warming seen as a key driver
  • Land-use changes, like deforestation and urbanization, increase water run-off, altering rainfall patterns and water distribution

RIYADH: From Argentina and South Sudan to Spain, Indonesia, and even Saudi Arabia, recent episodes of flash flooding around the world have cost numerous lives, displaced thousands, and destroyed infrastructure.

What is causing this flurry of flash flooding? Many factors come into play, from poor urban planning to improper resource management, but some argue the major culprit is climate change.

“Numerous environmental factors affect the water cycle, but temperature is perhaps the most important one,” Hylke Beck, assistant professor of earth science and engineering at Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, told Arab News.

“Earth’s water cycle is all about movement. Water is constantly shifting between the ocean, land, and atmosphere,” Beck continued. Water rises as it evaporates, after which it cools, condenses into clouds, and then falls as rain or snow. Some of that water runs off into rivers and oceans, some infiltrates the ground, becoming groundwater, and some is taken up by plants.

“It’s a continuous cycle that keeps water moving and sustains us and other organisms,” Beck explained.

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But what role does temperature play in the process? Warmer air holds more moisture. For every degree the planet warms up, the atmosphere can store approximately seven percent more water.

This extra moisture means that, when conditions are suitable, storms have a larger water supply to work with, resulting in heavier rainfall.

The Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology states that from 1979 to 2019, Saudi Arabia’s climate has warmed by 2.1 degrees Celsius — almost three times the global average.

Vehicles are submerged in water following flash floods in the holy city of Makkah on May 9, 2014. (AFP)

At the other end of the extreme, shifts in the water cycle have also led to more droughts, since higher temperatures also accelerate water evaporation, meaning more moisture is “pulled” from the ground at a faster rate. This dries out soil and makes droughts worse if there is not enough rain to replace it.

Longer dry spells and less frequent but heavier rainfall discourages crop growth and can lead to desertification.

In the Kingdom, stronger winds and drier soil causes more frequent and harsher sandstorms, harming the country’s agriculture and air quality. Air pollution can also change how clouds form and impact the amount of rainfall.

“In some places, increased evaporation can lead to more rainfall, but not necessarily where it’s needed,” said Beck. “Some regions get soaked, while others dry out even more.”

Sprinklers irrigate a rice field in Mishkhab in Iraq's Najaf province on July 8, 2024, as four consecutive years of drought and declining rainfall have strangled rice production in the country. (AFP/File)

Depending on where and how the moisture moves, warming can intensify both extreme rainfall and drying.

Changes in land also play an important role. Cutting down trees reduces transpiration, the urbanization of cities increases run-off, and damming rivers changes the direction of water flow.

Then there are also natural factors which can exacerbate man-made influences.

“Large-scale climate patterns like El Nino and La Nina (alter) where rain falls and for how long,” said Beck.

Both of those patterns are part of a natural cycle called El Nino-Southern Oscillation, El Nino is the phase in which the Pacific Ocean’s surface becomes warmer than usual. La Nina is the phase in which they are cooler. Both lead to changes in global weather, causing heavier rainfall in some areas and dryer conditions in others.

“Climate change is essentially throwing the whole system out of balance,” said Beck. “The result is more extremes — wetter wet seasons, drier dry seasons, and more unpredictable weather generally.”

Beck added that organizations like World Weather Attribution do crucial work in the field of climate monitoring by analyzing how climate change influences extreme events and how human activities shape the Earth’s water cycle.