Abu Dhabi is bringing back local fish species that were once on the brink of extinction, by supporting sustainable fishing practises that help local people, too
A few years ago, fish across the waters around the United Arab Emirates were under threat. Overzealous fishing practices had completely wiped out some species, leaving others severely endangered.
There were huge drops in fish populations of around 200 species, with local species such as hammour, sherry and farsh being fished between three and five times the sustainable limits. At one point, there was just 10 per cent of local fish compared to 1978 levels, when the sea was comparatively teeming with them.
The discovery came as a shock – and it wasn’t just the lack of fish that was damaging. The UAE has a strong fishing heritage, with local fishermen once relying on fishing as their main source of income.
The UAE acted fast. They banned the most harmful fishing nets, setting up marine reserves and implementing bans on fishing during certain seasons. They also employed fishing experts to set up a nation-wide research program of scientific studies for sustainable fisheries that will run to 2030, with the ambitious goal of recovering 70 per cent of the UAE’s fish stock by that year.
The idea is that by having a better understanding of the local fishery ecosystem, they’ll be better equipped to develop aquaculture research and programs to support fish. In doing so, pressure on fisheries would be reduced and fish stock would recover.
Now, recent reports show that the numbers of fish that are sustainably caught within Abu Dhabi’s waters are on the rise. It’s good news, and means at least 70 per cent of the emirate’s fish stock could recover by 2030 if current sustainable fishing practices and conservation efforts continue.