Eco-friendly engine for fishing boats

Fishermen who qualify have one month from the date of approval to buy the engine which will be installed free of charge within 10 days of the purchase.

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ABU DHABI // Fishermen are to be offered eco-friendly boat engines at half price, says the Ministry of Environment and Water, in an effort to protect the UAE’s marine ecosystem.

From Sunday, fishermen who make less than Dh30,000 in monthly salary, who have not received marine engine support in the past and have made more than 40 fishing trips between August last year and July this year, are being offered a 50 per cent discount on a new 115 horsepower, four-stroke marine engine.

Fishermen who qualify have one month from the approval date to buy the engine, which will also be installed free within 10 days of the purchase.

The Ministry has not specified the engine being offered, but a Yamaha engine with those specifications is being sold for Dh30,356 in Dubai.

Sultan Abdullah Alwan Al Habsi, the assistant undersecretary for the ministry, said that the engines would contribute to environmental sustainability. He said the project reflected the ministry’s effort to reduce fishermen’s expenses and support the industry. Fishermen have until September 3 to submit their orders.

tsubaihi@thenational.ae