UAE is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. But recently, it is seeing a huge gap between demand and supply of seafood due to tilting balance in favor of unsustainable imports. The government is encouraging local fish farmers and businessmen to invest in aqua farming to bridge this gap without taxing the environment. Consumption of food has increased compared to production. The growth in population has helped to increase in demand but depleted natural resources contributing this huge gap. It is also feared among the experts that the current rate of exploitation of fish could make many marine species extinct in the next two decades. This has helped to bring an aquaculture in UAE. Many in UAE have said aquaculture is the UAE fishing industry’s best possible solution. Different species of high-value species like hammour, sobaity, gabbit, and sheim can be grown locally to meet demand. The demand of small Aquaponics System is also in demand.
Aquafarms in UAE contributed 788 tons of fish and crustaceans – accounting for around 1% of the caught fish. The government is determined to increase that percentage to 25 by 2021. Alteast 10 registered commercial aquaculture farms in UAE largely contribute to this Dh1.2 billion industry. Fishes such as black tilapia in Al Ain, sturgeon at the world’s largest sturgeon farm in Abu Dhabi, red tilapia in Ras Al Khaimah are the examples. However, the main challenge of aqua farming in the UAE is the lack of a supply of juveniles or fingerlings.
The main driver of the aquaculture industry is a source of juveniles. It is also hoped that by the end of 2017, the government will introduce in stages new species that will be used for aquaculture. At Studpac, we are very much happy about the fact that we are one of the top contributors of this industry.
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