A report by the Abu Dhabi Environment Agency (EAD) on the sustainable aquaculture policy of Abu Dhabi showed that the gap between the need and consumption of fish food in the country is 136,450 tonnes, according to estimates by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, where fishing contributes 29% According to the latest statistics of the Ministry, the production of licensed aquaculture farms contributed less than 1% to meet the demand for fish products.

In particular, the Authority renewed its warning that the fisheries resources in the country are under severe pressure due to the increasing demand for fish products, the steady increase in the population, the development of fishing means, overfishing, pollution and climate change, pointing out that there are nine licensed fish farms in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Six species of fish, contributing 34% of the local fish production in the country, in addition to the existence of 571 ponds in 365 farms distributed in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, pointing out that the area of ​​these ponds more than 3500 square meters.

Cultured species include tilapia, shrimp, seprim, sturgeon, caviar and grouper, pointing out that most aquaculture farms are small-scale. Hamour farm in Al Wathba.

The Authority noted that white shrimp are the main type of production, contributing more than 88% of the production, while the secondary species of tilapia and sturgeon contributes about 50 tons of annual production.The production value of the culture in 2015 amounted to about 14 million dirhams from five farms. Three small tilapia farms, and two large shrimp and caviar farms).

In its Strategic Plan 2016-2020, the Authority has developed a program aimed at developing the fisheries resources, in order to bridge the shortage of natural fish stocks and maintain and contribute to food security, and issued a policy document sustainable aquaculture in the emirate, in order to develop a sustainable aquaculture sector to protect The strategic reservoir of aquatic organisms, contributing to the preservation of the cultural and social heritage of the Emirate, without prejudice to the environment, in addition to assisting investors in this area to obtain sustainable income.

The studies on fisheries management conducted by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, the Authority and the competent local authorities over the past 15 years showed that the main fisheries resources in the country were overexploited. From the waters of the state in the Arabian Gulf, at least 13 species of commercial fish are caught at levels beyond the limits of sustainability, pointing out that these species constitute about 80% of the total harvest and about 88% of fishing revenues.

The Commission stated that the economic contribution of the fisheries sector to the country's gross domestic product is relatively small, where it does not exceed 0.12% of the GDP, but what enhances the value of this sector is the cultural importance of citizens and their cultural and heritage link to it, and fishing contributes 29% of the total Demand for seafood, the aquaculture sector contributes 1%, while 70% of the demand is covered by imports from international markets.

6 pressures

EAD has identified six key factors that represent major pressures facing the country's fisheries, including increased demand for fish due to population growth, rapid growth in tourism, loss and degradation of key habitats, low water quality due to coastal development, climate change impacts on fisheries, Marine water quality due to high ocean acidity caused by climate change, which adversely affects fish reproduction and survival rates of young fish, and the loss of mangroves and seagrass as a result of coastal development, affecting stock Due to the loss of fish habitat and natural nursery for fish, in addition to fishing operations illegal and unregulated fishing in the recreational sector.

She pointed out that the steady population increase witnessed by the state during the past two decades, which is estimated at four times, has increased pressure on marine natural resources, and the multiplicity of activities and human uses of the marine environment, which led to increased pressure on the fishery resources in the country as in the rest of the countries. the world.

Aquaculture farms in Abu Dhabi produce 6 species of fish and contribute 34% to local production.

13

Species of commercial fish caught at levels beyond sustainability.