The Abu Dhabi Environment Agency (EAD) has revealed that there are five licensed aquaculture farms in the emirate, which contributed to the production of 808 tons of seafood, with a production value of approximately 19 million dirhams last year, noting that the Indian white shrimp and hamour accounted for most of the production.
In response to the inquiries of the UAE Today to encourage investment in aquaculture, the Authority clarified that the number of aquaculture farms licensed in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi until 2018 reached five farms, including four commercial farms and one research, pointing out that there are two large-scale farms. One shrimp production plant in open ponds near Abu Dhabi, and another grouper farm in a high-tech recycling system in Al Wathba, next to two mid-range farms for integrated tilapia culture with plants in Bani Yas, Al Wafa and a small-scale tilapia research farm in Madi. Its source.
The total quantity of aquaculture products was 305 tons of shrimp, with a total value of 6 million dirhams, 163 tons of tilapia, 120 tons of grouper, 120 tons of sprim, 60 tons of permanganese and 40 tons of seabass. There was a 20% increase in production during 2017, which reached 650 tons, noting that there were no reports on the production of unlicensed small farms, so their contribution to the total products of the sector was not taken into account.
The Commission attributed its launch this year to the sustainable aquaculture policy of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, with the aim of developing a vision to promote growth in the aquaculture sector in the emirate and enhance its competitiveness to reduce pressures on over-exploited local fisheries. Ease pressure on the emirate's fish stocks and promote a local strategy that encourages the creation of an environmentally sustainable, economically viable and socially responsible aquaculture sector that can meet the growing consumption patterns in Abu Dhabi and the UAE.
The Commission stressed that sustainable aquaculture contributes to achieving food security and economic growth in the country by providing safe and high-quality marine food products, using sustainable technologies that preserve biodiversity and ensure the protection of marine ecosystems, pointing out that the culture includes fish farming, molluscs, crustaceans, algae and aquatic plants For the production of food, trade in ornamental fish, stock replenishment or commercial, recreational and research purposes.
Acute overeating
The Abu Dhabi Environment Agency (EAD) has confirmed that the UAE's fishery resources are severely overexploited, with an estimated 90% reduction in the volume of fully-grown (reproductive) fish stocks for the main benthic species: grouper, capillary, and brushes. 30%, below this limit, fish stocks fall into the overexploited category. The best available information indicates that the volume of fully-stocked fish for these three species has reached less than 10% of its untapped status, pointing out that the main motivation behind the launch of the National Framework for the Sustainability of Fisheries in the UAE (2019-2030) is Any proposed solutions should take into account the importance of fisheries to the heritage of the UAE (social aspect), and fishermen who rely on fishing as a main source of income (economic aspect).