June 28, 2010

Around 50,000 pre-adolescent fishes were released into the region's waters on Sunday (Jun 27) by the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi (EAD) and UAE-based aquaculture company, International Fish Farming Holding Company PJSC (ASMAK) as part of EAD's Fish Stock Enhancement Programme.

The programme was held in coordination with the Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) off the northern coast of Saadiyat Island and strives to sustain Abu Dhabi's fisheries. Fishes weighing between 1.2gm to 2.0gm, including local favourite Hammour (Orange Spotted Grouper) and the Sobaity were freed into the wild.

"We have developed fisheries management plans, issued regulations to control the fishing effort and continue to regulate the conditions under which commercial fishing may occur. Despite these measures, some of our fisheries are still being overfished and that is why this release was necessary," said Thabit Zahran Al Abdessalaam, Director of EAD's Biodiversity Management Sector.

Abu Dhabi is now following the rest of the world with its marine stock enhancement programmes. Other countries include Australia, China, Denmark, France, Iceland, South Korea, Norway, Spain, Thailand, UK, US, Japan, Iran, Canada and many island nations of Oceania.

"We are working to rebuild spawning stock biomass by augmenting the natural supply of juveniles, mitigating losses due to anthropogenic effects, supplementing fisheries that may be under pressure from fishing and improving the production from already sustainable fisheries," he added.

Al Abdessalaam said that stock enhancement programmes such as this one offer possible remediation for non-fishery related impacts on fisheries.