The Ministry of Environment and Water, along with Dibba Al Fujairah Municipality and the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, have participated in Aqua Nor 2015, a specialised aquaculture exhibition which was held in Norway recently.

The Ministry's participation is in line with its commitment to the protection and development of living aquatic resources in the UAE, and part of active efforts to encourage investment in aquaculture projects and recognise the sector as one of the fastest growing food production industries worldwide.

The government delegation comprised Mariam Mohammed Saeed Hareb, Acting Assistant Under-Secretary of Water Resources and Nature Conservation Affairs, Hassan Salem Al Yamahi, Director-General of the Dibba Fujairah Municipality, and Abdullah Juma Al Junaibi, Director of the Animal Production Department at Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority.

Mariam Hareb said that aquaculture and fisheries represent an essential component of food security, ecological balance and the global economy, emphasising that the UAE has adopted aquaculture solutions at early stages in order to find sustainable alternatives and solutions to the development of fisheries in the country.

She added that the Ministry's participation in Aqua Nor 2015 follows the country's strong interest in promoting natural resources, namely the protection of fisheries, in light of the growing population and expected rise in per capita consumption of fish and fishery products. Ms. Hareb explained that the UAE adopted the aquaculture technique in 1984 through the Ministry's Marine Environment Research Centre and efforts have only increased since then, especially as reflected by the establishment of the Khalifa bin Zayed Centre for Marine Research which plays a significant role in the industry.

Hareb underlined the importance of promoting cooperation and international partnerships to boost sustainable environmental development across the various industries and segments, pointing out that Aqua Nor is an excellent and crucial platform for the government sector, private businesses and professionals to maximise the promising opportunities in the industry, be introduced to the successful and prominent experiences of industry leaders, and showcase best practices and the latest systems and technologies.

The Ministry also hosted the first-ever Aqua Middle East exhibition and summit in March 2015, attracting around 5,000 visitors and aquaculture professionals from various public and private sectors in the region.

Following the overwhelming success of the event, the Ministry has announced that the event will be organised on annual basis, with the next edition to be held in March 2016.
Source: WAM