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* 1. Respondent Demographics

Gender

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* 2. In what age group are you?

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* 3. What category do you most associate with?

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* 4. What is your Emirate of residence?

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* 5. How many times do you spearfish per month?

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* 6. Spearfishing Regulation Questions
The Hamour (Orange Spotted Grouper / Epinephelus coioides) is the second most landed fish species in the Abu Dhabi fishery accounting for 15 % of total fish landings and 27% of the total revenue in the commercial fishery. It is currently severely overexploited with landing based stock assessments indicated it is approximately 4% of its virgin biomass.

What is an appropriate take limit for Hamour per spearfisher per day / boat, whilst spearfishing?

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* 7. Eshnunah (Yellow Finned Hind / Cephalopholis hemistiktos) is a severely overexploited species equating to around 0.1% of the commercial catch. It takes 14 years to reach sexual maturity and is an easy target for spearfishers.

What is an appropriate take limit for Eshnunah per spearfisher per day / boat, whilst spearfishing?

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* 8. Kanaad (Kingfish / Scomberomorus commerson) is a severely overexploited species equating to around 32% of the commercial catch and 42% of the revenue in the commercial fishery. It is currently severely overexploited with landing based stock assessments indicating it is approximately 13 % of its virgin biomass, with the predominant catch below the length of sexual maturity.                                                                                     
What is an appropriate take limit for Kanaad per spearfisher per day / boat, whilst spearfishing?

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* 9. Dhile (Scomberoides commersonnianus) and Bassar (Scomberoides tol / Queenfish) are overexploited species equating to around 14.4% of the commercial catch and 3% of the revenue in the commercial fishery. They are currently severely overexploited.

What is an appropriate take limit for Dhile and Bassar per day / boat, whilst spearfishing?

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* 10. Jedd (Sphyraena jello) is currently sustainably exploited, and equates to 2.1% of the catch and 1.3% of the revenue in the commercial fishery. It is considered to be sustainably exploited.

What is an appropriate take limit for Jedd per spearfisher per day / boat, whilst spearfishing?

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* 11. Cobia (Rachycentron canadum) is a popular fish to spearfish, with its sustainability status currently unknown.

What is an appropriate take limit for Cobia per day / boat, whilst spearfishing?

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* 12. Jesh (Trevally / Carangoides bajad)  is an overexploited species, and equates to 4.3% of the catch and 5.1% of the revenue in the commercial fishery. It is considered to be an overexploited species.

What is an appropriate take limit for Jesh  per person per day / boat, whilst spearfishing?

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* 13. Zuraidi (Golden Trevally / Gnathanodon speciosus) is a severely overexploited species, and equates to 0.4% of the catch and 0.6% of the revenue in the commercial fishery. It is considered to be an overexploited species.

What is an appropriate take limit for Zuraidi per day / boat, whilst spearfishing?

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* 14. Shaari (Spangled Emperor), Shaari Shekhali, Yemah, and Souli all look similar underwater. Shaari is severely overexploited at around 10% of its virgin biomass, whilst Shaari Shekhali and Souli are underexploited, and Yemah sustainably exploited. Together they equate to 7.2% of the landed catch and 7.4% of the revenue in the commercial fishery.

What is an appropriate take limit for Shaari per day / boat, whilst spearfishing, if managed together?

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* 15. Farsh (Painted Sweetlips / Diagramma pictum) is severely overexploited, takes 3 years to reach sexual maturity, however it is a long lived fish, having a 30 year lifespan. Our recent survey found that it is currently on average only living to 2 year's of age. In Abu Dhabi it currently accounts for 2.2% of the total landed catch, and 1.4% of the total revenue of the fishery.

What is an appropriate take limit for Farsh per day / boat, whilst spearfishing, if managed together?

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* 16. Marjaan (Mangrove Snapper / Lutjanus argentimaculatus) is a severely overexploited species equating to around 0.1% of the commercial catch. It takes 14 years to reach sexual maturity and is an easy target for spearfishers.

What is an appropriate take limit for Marjaan per day / boat, whilst spearfishing?

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* 17. Kofar (King Soldier Bream / Argyrops spinifer) is a severely overexploited species equating to around 0.1% of the commercial catch and 0.1% of the commercial fishery revenue.

What is an appropriate take limit for Kofar per day / boat, whilst spearfishing?

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* 18. Spawning Season Ban Proposal:
22 species accounting for approximately 86% of the landed fish species spawn during March and April, of which 12 species are severely overexploited. Fisheries statistics indicate that approximately 22% of the total landed catch in the UAE are caught during March and April. This figure includes approximately 32% of Hamour; 25% of Shaari; 29% of Farsh; and 10% of Kanaad.

Would you support an annual spawning season ban for the 12 species that are overexploited during March and April? These species include: Hamour (Orange Spotted Grouper), Shaari (Spangled Emperor), Farsh (Painted Sweetlips), Kanaad (Kingfish), Dhil’e (Queenfish), Zuraidi (Golden Trevally), Jesh Um Al Hala (Orange Spotted Trevally), Qabit (Gold Lined Seabream), Safi Arabi (White-spotted Spinefoot), Kofar (King Soldier Bream), Esnenuh (Yellow fin Hind) and Marjaan (Mangrove Red Snapper).

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* 19. What do you consider is the appropriate minimum legal length for spearfishing Kanaad / Kingfish?
Lm = Length at maturity, Lm+x = Length after x year reaching maturity

  Lm+1 year (99cm) Lm+2 years (110cm) Lm+3 years (117cm)
Lm (86cm)

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* 20. What do you consider is the appropriate minimum legal length for spearfishing Marjaan / Mangrove Red Snapper?
Lm = Length at maturity, Lm+x = Length after x year reaching maturity

  Lm+1 year (56cm) Lm+2 years (57cm) Lm+3 years (58cm)
Lm (56cm)

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* 21. What do you consider is the appropriate minimum legal length for spearfishing Jedd / Barracuda?
Lm = Length at maturity, Lm+x = Length after x year reaching maturity

  Lm+1 year (87cm) Lm+2 years (94cm) Lm+3 years (99cm)
Lm (80cm)

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* 22. Do you have any comments on how spearfishing should be managed in Abu Dhabi Emirate? 

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