Shorouk Awad (Dubai)
Nasser Mohammed Sultan, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for the Biodiversity and Aquatic Biology Sector at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, confirmed that the ministry is implementing 3 plans within the Sheikh Khalifa Marine Research Center in Umm Al Quwain during the current year “2022.” The first plans are to introduce new types of commercial fish According to the desire and requirements of the aquaculture sector market at the state level, such as “Sebass, grouper, Japanese hamachi, and other local varieties, such as sukrel”, to the center with the aim of cultivating them, and the second is to work on increasing the operational and production capacity of the center; In order to meet the needs of the companies operating in the sector, to reach the production of more than 7 million fingerlings of various types, and the third is currently working on the completion of the expansion of the hatchery affiliated to the center, with the aim of raising its commercial production capacity to include local species such as grouper, safi and other species that the sector needs . In an interview with Al-Ittihad, Sultan indicated that the hatchery of the Sheikh Khalifa Center for Marine Research, during the last quarter of last year “2021”, delivered a shipment of 789,649 fingerlings of “European Seabream” to the companies of the fish farm “Fish Frum” and the UAE Aquarium, with the aim of Starting the fish production process by caring for and fattening fingerlings in the cages of the two companies.
14 licensed facilities
Asking about the total number of licensed fish farming establishments in the UAE? He said: “Based on the ministry’s statements, the total facilities amounted to 14 facilities distributed in the various emirates of the country during the past year (2021), including 5 facilities in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, 4 facilities in the Emirate of Fujairah, 3 facilities in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, and one facility in the Emirate of Dubai, and one facility in the Emirate of Sharjah, and these facilities vary in their production methods and systems used in culture, including the (water recycling) system, another follow the Aquaponics system, the third follows the (ponds) system, the fourth follows the (cages) system, and the fifth follows the (cages) system. (suspended ropes) and many others, and it also produces many types of fish such as (tilapia, barramundi, seabass, seabream, grouper, salmon, Japanese amberjack, shrimp and oysters). By the Ministry due to the small scope of its work.
Food security
On the reasons behind the UAE’s focus on fish farming, he stressed that the state attaches great importance to the development of fisheries, which is one of the most important pillars of enhancing its food security and increasing its annual food production, pointing out that the Sheikh Khalifa Marine Research Hatchery represents one of the state’s most important tools in this field. Due to its large capacity to produce about 30 million fish fingerlings per year, which reflects its great ability to supply various fish farms in the country with fingerlings of the finest types of fish in preparation for their breeding and placing them on the market within a short period, in addition to the fact that farming is one of the best solutions to reach the sustainability of fish production and food security, by bridging the supply and demand gap for seafood in the country.
activity development
Regarding the plans of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment regarding the implementation of the state’s directions for fish farming, he affirmed the ministry’s keenness to develop the fish farming activity, and to facilitate the procedures for issuing licenses for practicing this activity easily and smoothly, away from the complications that do not serve the current trends, to ensure the sustainability and development of fish wealth in its various forms. Pointing out that the ministry has undertaken many efforts, including issuing guidelines and guidelines for fish farmers, in order to achieve several goals, including encouraging this category to continue the farming profession, as a successful economic investment in the long term, allowing them to establish profitable economic projects, such as culturing marine creatures Increasing fish production by providing farmed fish desirable in local markets and of economic value, reducing fishing effort on natural fisheries, enhancing food security, preserving and developing the environment for current and future generations, and many other goals.
By asking about the characteristics of the types of fish farmed in the country, he emphasized their diversity, as they include types such as crustaceans such as shrimp, and shellfish such as Pacific oysters, and various types of fish, including “tilapia, grouper, seabream, seabass, salmon, barramundi, and Japanese Hamachi.”
simplifying procedures
He stressed the ministry’s role in encouraging aquaculture, represented in simplifying and facilitating the licensing procedures according to the competence entrusted to it, developing research and innovation for aquatic organisms for cultivation, transferring best practices, techniques and technology used in aquaculture and aquaculture, and building national capacities through forums and workshops with global expertise. In this field, providing technical advice to investors and developing guides and standards related to the field of aquaculture.
Among the most important species that are suitable for cultivation in the local environment, are mullet and carp, such as (silver, grass, brilliant, large-headed and ordinary), tilapia such as “indigo, Galilee, Hassani and green”, bass, spears, grouper, salmon, seabass, and shrimp , sturgeon fish, oysters, oysters, salamanders, kapt, safi and yamen, stressing the necessity of taking into account the methods of breeding in aquaculture.
Tips and Advice
Regarding the most important advice directed to fish breeders for the success of farming, he stressed the necessity of the breeder’s commitment to obtain fry or fingerlings from a reliable source “the nearest governmental or licensed fish hatcheries” to reduce the problems of transmissible diseases, and visual monitoring to follow the movement and vitality of fish, and to ensure of the same size of fingerlings or fish in the aquarium and from the same spawning batch; In order to spare the farmer from a high rate of mortality due to predation that occurs as a result of the variation in fish sizes, to monitor the vitality of fish during feeding, to monitor water quality in ponds periodically and temperature, and to keep records for each pond that include all activities that are practiced during the productive season for the possibility of good follow-up, Providing trained technical labor, disinfecting breeding ponds, fishing nets and all tools used in the production process during the breeding period at the end of the harvest season, and others.
He stated that to increase the production of farmed fish, a control system must be used, such as biological systems based on healthy and technical methods used in farms to provide oxygen and resist diseases and epidemics, maintain and improve ponds, fertilize them to provide healthy conditions for the aquarium and fish, and artificially feed fish to increase its production, and non-discriminatory systems. Biological based on careful selection of species, control of fish storage in ponds, temperature and oxygen control in ponds, improvement of reproduction, mixing of ages and species, succession of production throughout the year, hunting in periods of increased production, resistance to parasites and diseases and following an agricultural cycle, such as planting alfalfa or any green fodder in the pond to combat diseases fish.
He pointed to the reasons for the growth achieved by the seafood markets spread in the country during the past years, which are summarized in the population increase, the size of retail trade, consumer awareness and the recovery of the tourism sector with the nutritional importance of marine fish, as the gap between supply and demand in the UAE pushed to focus more on the aquaculture industry and work to attract investors. In the aquaculture sector, pointing to the need for investors to benefit from the incentives and facilities provided by the state in the aquaculture sector and to continue to work in this sector, and among the most important incentives are the large commercial opportunities available within the region, the development of markets with the increasing demand for farmed marine products, and the availability of services World-class basic and logistical infrastructure, continuous growth in the tourism sector, rapid growth in retail trade and many more are the catalysts.
Of particular importance
He explained that the ministry seeks, by focusing on fish farming, to achieve several goals, the most important of which is to enhance food diversity and ensure its sustainability and reduce pressure on natural fisheries by providing an alternative source of fish. Which includes a package of smart and electronic services for licensing and importing fish feed, fish hatchlings and larvae, quarry release and many more.
He added: The Ministry attaches special importance to the fish production sector, and works to protect and sustain it, through the development of innovative research and studies that rely on the use of the latest technologies, with the aim of enhancing sustainability and competitiveness, and being guided by economic, social and cultural information about the environment for the development of living aquatic wealth by providing suitable habitats for reproduction. Which will contribute to ensuring that fishermen continue their profession, pointing out that the ministry is working on several axes to sustain the provision of fish, including laws and legislation regulating the practice of fishing to ensure the exploitation of fish stocks and achieve sustainability.