source: WAM
The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment signed a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Economic Development in Umm Al Quwain, to launch the \”Fish Incubators\” project, which aims to provide suitable artificial habitats that ensure raising the rates of local fish wealth as part of its strategy to protect the marine environment and enhance the sustainability of its diversity and biological wealth.
The first pilot project, which is carried out in cooperation with the Cooperative Association of Fishermen in the Emirate of Umm Al Quwain – as a representative of the Department of Economic Development – relies on dropping metal cages in Umm Al Quwain Creek, to place fish inside them during the period of laying eggs to ensure their protection from the natural effects in the open sea waters that cause Reducing the survival rates of eggs, and the pilot project aims to raise the egg survival rates of these fish to contribute to increasing the stock of benthic fish.
According to scientific studies, the rate of laying eggs for one fish ranges from \”500,000 – 300,000\” eggs and the survival rate of the larvae is 1.5%, and the fertility rate in foster cages increases by 50%.
Umm Al Quwain Creek is one of the rich bays rich in biodiversity and a safe biological sanctuary for marine organisms, which has a width of 1 km and a length of 5 km, and it is characterized by many vital advantages, in which the Crimean trees abound that help in the spread of fish and reproduce it, as well as surrounded by a group of small green belt reserves with trees Crimea, which provides a safe habitat for fish to throw eggs and promote their reproduction, as this type of tree contributes to preserving marine life.
The experimental stage of the project includes the landing of 2 metal cages, each of which is 3. meters long and the base length is 3.6 meters in a circular shape for ease of movement of fish inside and the lack of feeling of captivity to lay eggs without pressure, which enhances the fish stock.
Umm Al Quwain Creek was chosen to land cages, as the creek is characterized by water currents suitable for non-stressing fish in addition to the appropriate depth for easy movement of currents and rotating them under the cages. A number of 300 capillary fish were collected to be placed in cages in addition to a small number of some other types to create the appropriate environment and conditions To start the hatching process.
The project includes carrying out marine surveys before placing cages to study the region\’s biological diversity, distributing species, collecting water samples to study marine plankton, and conducting a comparative study after completing the breeding season.
The areas of cooperation between the Ministry and the department, according to the Memorandum of Understanding, include the implementation of joint programs to develop the stocks of fish in the emirate, conducting joint marine surveys on natural habitats, artificial girdles, quantitative and qualitative measurement of biomass, and developing digital data for the amount of catches in landing and fish handling sites.
The \”Fish Incubators\” project comes within the strategic direction of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment to enhance the habitats of \”natural and artificial\” marine resources with the aim of achieving the sustainability of this wealth and increasing its stocks, which includes many initiatives and projects, including landing artificial caves in coastal areas at the state level and planting mangroves, Coral cultivation and establishment of coral gardens, rocky outcrops and tidal rocky basins.