STATUS OF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES IN THE UMLUJ, RED SEA, SAUDI ARABIA

Fishing is an important food source, with a high economic benefit and social significance. The current alarming fisheries scenario is the outcome of an interaction with the various factors (e.g. climate change, natural fluctuation, technical innovation), but the key challenges are overfishing and climate change. The current study was carried out to estimate the status annual catch of grouper and emperor species fisheries from six landing sites in the Umluj region, Saudi Arabian Red Sea coast using statistics landing annual catch data from Fisheries Statistics, Directorate of Fisheries, Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture during the period from 2011 to 2016. Landing data showed a significant continuous decline in the total annual catch for groupers (Serranidae) and emperors (Lethrinidae) species, proving that the two species are low in stock abundances. Owing to changes in habitat quality and overfishing, the decline in stock abundance can occur. The results indicated that no significant difference between the gill nets and the traps for both of the grouper and the emperor and low significant differences among landing sites. These findings may help to develop a monitoring program for the status of grouper and emperor in the west Saudi Arabian coast and contribute to a better management strategy.