She emphasized the need to increase "sustainable exploitation" to 70% by 2030

Environment Abu Dhabi: Fisheries in a "critical" situation

The total catch during 12 months was 2,230 tons of fish.

From the source

The Environment Agency in Abu Dhabi affirmed that there is an urgent need to transfer fisheries in the UAE from its current (critical) state to the status of renewable fisheries, noting that “the national framework for sustainable fisheries for the state (2019 - 2030) is considered a program for managing change in fisheries on Federal level ».

It also «as a national plan to revive and replenish fish stocks in the country, and optimal ways and methods to ensure the sustainability of fisheries at the national and local levels, within the current context of climate change».

She explained that the framework “aims for the UAE to have sustainable fisheries by 2030, by increasing the sustainable exploitation index from 8.4% in 2017 to 70% in 2030, and the renewal of depleted fish stocks, reaching the minimum sustainable level threshold, by increasing the average relative size of fish. The amount is three main commercial types, from 6.6 to 30% in 2030. ”

The national framework includes the implementation of decisive management measures that will reduce the pressure on fisheries in the commercial and recreational sectors, in addition to enhancing fish stocks, by developing effective research and studies for aquaculture and aquaculture, and rehabilitating fisheries habitats through the establishment of artificial reefs.

The authority revealed that the total fishing catch in the emirate during the year 2019 decreased by 54% compared to 2018, accompanied by a decrease in the total value by 61%, equivalent to 73.6 million dirhams, noting that «the total catch, within 12 months, amounted to 2,230 Tons of fish from 22,638 fishing trips.

The authority explained that the year 2019 witnessed the absence of two main equipment of commercial fishing equipment, as it was prohibited to fish using spinning nets in the emirate throughout the year, and it was also prohibited to use the gargour stomach since May 1, 2019, noting that these measures had a significant impact on the value of total production. And wholesale sale.

This came in the report of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Statistics in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi 2019, which was issued by the authority last December.

The authority indicated that 2,230 tons of fish were landed by commercial fishermen in Abu Dhabi during 2019, which is equivalent to only 46% of the total landing rate in 2018, which amounted to about 4,892 tons, noting that «the decrease resulted in a decrease in the total value. The harvest increased by 61%, from 120.5 million dirhams in 2018, to 46.9 million dirhams in 2019 ».

The authority suggested that the significant decrease in the total value for 2019 is the reason behind the closure of two of the most productive fisheries in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

The Free Port site achieved the highest profits with a total of 19 million dirhams, equivalent to 41% of the total value of wholesale sales in Abu Dhabi.

Monthly fishing statistics showed that May was the lowest landing month of the year, as the fishing yield in cruisers reached 181.1 tons, and September came the highest in fishing quantities, reaching 334.9 tons by cruisers, while the fishing catch by launch reached "zero", from May until the end of the year.

The authority attributed the sharp decline to the application of the decision to ban fishing in the gargour stomach in Abu Dhabi, pointing out that the reason for the landing of cruisers to reach their climax in September is related to a large crop of bay fish and geysers.

She added that the year 2019 witnessed the conduct of 22,638 fishing trips, as the launches made 1281 fishing trips during this period, compared to the number of 2557 in 2018.

She attributed the decline to the implementation of the ban on fishing equipment in Abu Dhabi at the beginning of May 2019, pointing out that the cruisers made 21,357 fishing trips, compared to 20,821 flights in 2018, an increase of 3%.

It stated that the number of fishing trips using a cruiser-spinning method, which reached 6,230 in 2018, was also banned in 2019.

She pointed out that the spinning nets fisheries, which are usually the mainstay of landings in Abu Dhabi, decreased from 2,717 tons in 2018 to zero tons in 2019, due to the closure of these fisheries.

The traditional gargir fish fisheries, which are usually another important component of landings in Abu Dhabi, decreased from 895 tons in 2018 to only 295 tons in 2019.

The authority stated that the fish landed on the launch boats were grouper by 60%, brush fish by 10%, and barley by 8%.

As for the fish landed by cruisers, they were kingfish by 23%, and sherry by 15%.

527 tons of sea food

The Environment Agency in Abu Dhabi reported that licensed aquaculture farms in the emirate contributed to the production of 527 tons of seafood in 2019. The value of production was approximately 18 million dirhams.

Grouper and white Indian shrimp accounted for most of the production.

It stated that the output of grouper from aquaculture amounted to 220 tons, followed by white shrimp with 210 tons, followed by seabream with 52 tons, seabass with 30 tons, and tilapia with 15 tons.

The national framework includes implementing critical measures to reduce pressure on fisheries.

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