His Excellency Dr. Rashid Ahmed Bin Fahad, Minister of Environment and Water, said the completion of the Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Marine Research Centre in Umm Al Quwain is a key pillar in protecting and promoting sustainable fishery in the UAE. The newly built research centre will contribute to the government’s efforts to enhance food security, which is one of its strategic objectives. It was established in line with the directives of H.H. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, to intensify the country’s infrastructure development.
In a statement released for the celebration of World Fisheries Day commemorated every November 21st, H.E. Bin Fahad said unsustainable fishing practices pose a major threat to the country’s fisheries. He specifically pointed out the alarming decrease in the amount of fish caught off the state’s territorial waters bordering Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman over the past three decades. He added that comparative studies that was done to measure demersal fish stocks in the Emirates represents a warning alarm for the outcome of the status of fisheries in case of continued natural pressures and unsustainable fishing practices.
He said the Ministry, along with other stakeholders in the country, is working hard to protect the fisheries and aquatic resources and ensure their sustainability. As to addressing fishing pressures and other challenges, the Ministry is basing its actions on two pillars. The first is the enactment of legislations and the development of regulations and standards to ensure strict implementation of sustainable fishing practices. This is done in cooperation with all concerned federal and local authorities as well as the Fishermen's associations in all regions
of the State. The Ministry is also monitoring and regulating the fishermen’s associations in the country as well as raising the awareness of all stakeholders in the fishing sector. The second pillar, on the other hand, deals with improving the fisheries and aquatic resources by promoting aquaculture, protecting the marine and coastal environment, and increasing the
number of marine-protected areas. In recent years, the state has established more marine reserves, resulting in the Emirates placing first globally in the Environmental Performance Index this year in terms of the number of marine-protected areas.
H.E. Bin Fahad said the UAE has been promoting aquaculture as part of the framework addressing the acute shortage of some fish species in order to meet the growing demand. Fish farming and mariculture are now being implemented in the face of continuous deterioration of resources at the global level especially with the development of new farming techniques over the past years. He added that this industry will witness significant improvements in the next few years in the UAE.
Similarly, the Ministry of Environment and Water is seeking to encourage investments and active participation from the private sector in efforts to integrate ‘green’ initiatives into fisheries and the mariculture sector as well as lay the foundation for sustainability. This is within the Ministry’s strategic objectives to promote a sustainable marine and coastal environment and effectively implement the UAE Green Growth Strategy which supports a ‘green’ economy for sustainable development. In this light, the Ministry revealed that it is organizing the ‘Aqua Middle East 2015’ exhibition from March 16 to 18, 2015. Private institutions and stakeholders in fish farming and aquaculture industry will participate in the event.
H.E. Bin Fahad further emphasized that the marine research centre, which was completed a few days ago, will increase the production of economically valuable fingerlings from 200,000 to 10 million annually by 2017. Commencing its operations early next year, the centre will be
launched in the protected areas and creeks and breeding areas where the production of fingerlings increased from 3.3 million in the first year to about 6.5 million to 10 million in the third year. The newly built marine research centre will focus on the production of economically valuable fish species that have the highest demand in the UAE such as Hamour, Sobaity, Shaam and Qabet.
Aside from the production of fingerlings, the centre will also be engaged in scientific research on marine environment protection, coastal living and wealth promotion, and the creation of smart and innovative solutions to meet the growing challenges in the marine environment and its wealth and resources. In addition, it will provide technical support to fish farms in the Emirates and work on capacity building in these areas.
H.E. Bin Fahad also called on the workers and relevant authorities in the fishing sector to adhere to the existing legislations and regulations governing the usage, protection and development of living aquatic resources in the state to attain sustainability and address future challenges.