National Aquaculture Sector Overview (NASO) - UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

摘要

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is one of the pioneers in aquaculture among the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (the GCC was founded in 1981 and includes Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and the Sultanate of Oman). The country is endowedwith many natural lagoons, bays and creeks, most of which are encircled by mangrove swamps providing ideal spawning and nursery grounds for a wide variety of fish and shrimp species. With a view to utilizing this natural environment for the developmentof fisheries, the Ministry of Environment and Water (MOEW) established the Marine Environment Research Centre (MERC) in Umm Al-Qaiwain on the west coast of UAE in 1984. Aquaculture is one of the main developmental activities undertaken by the MERC sinceits inception. Fingerlings of locally popular fish species such as white-spotted spinefoot (Siganus canaliculars), orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides), large-scale mullet (Liza macrolepis) and Sobaity seabream (Sparidentex hasta) are produced during their natural spawning season at this experimental research station. In compliance with the policy of the Government, a major part of the fingerlings produced at MERC is released at suitable locations along the coastal waters of UAE. The MERC retains in its facilities tilapia broodstock. The fry and fingerlings produced under natural conditions are widely distributed to all interested fish farmers for on-growing. Commercial scale aquaculture using sea net cage is being carried out off Dibba on theeastern coast of UAE, facing the Gulf of Oman. Although a number of fish species have been tried since 1999, the main species currently cultured in these facilities are the Gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata), the European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and the Sobaity seabream (Sparidentex hasta). Commercial size fish harvested from these cages are for the local and international market. The MOEW has been promoting aquaculture by offering fingerlings and imparting technical know-how to those who are interested. The environmental conditions in the country are favourable for aquaculture projects and the authorities hope to attract more investors in the coming years.