UAE | Environment
Juvenile fish should be given chance to reproduce
To try and revive current stocks which have been heavily depleted environmentalists and the government are working to limit the amount of juvenile fish caught.
- By Emmanuelle Landais, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:00 June 8, 2010
Dubai: Hamour sold less than 20cm or 30cm long are juvenile and have been caught before they have been able to reproduce and spawn.
To try and revive current stocks which have been heavily depleted environmentalists and the government are working to limit the amount of juvenile fish caught.
A Hamour reaches sexual maturity when it is around 45cm long and will have been through a reproductive cycle and spawned at least once — which might not be enough but is a step in the right direction.
Small, and therefore young, fish should be thrown back to avoid catching them in the first place, giving fish numbers a chance to bounce back to meet demand.
Decision
An administrative decision has been issued banning fishing and marketing of longtail silver biddy or badah, bluespot mullet or beyah arabi and white spotted spinefoot or safi fish in Abu Dhabi from April 1 to May 31 to allow these fish to reproduce.
Surveys conducted by the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi found that in 2009 the total amount of these fish caught amounted to about 217. 7 metric tonnes.
This is equivalent to 0.04 per cent of the total stock in the waters of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
More from UAE Environment
More from UAE
Latest news
- Tracks to be laid on recycled material
- Golden Hour crucial to a patient's survival
- Opening show worthy of UAE
- Sun is shining on prospects for solar power
- Artists focus on craftsmanship
- World leaders committed to supporting civilians
- Schools open a new page in teaching English
- Special parking to help disabled tourists
- Helping hand surgeons have long sought
- Blind woman lights up corridors of power
- In Mind
- At times, I think of committing suicide
- Designer of a creative haven
- Fund to help Dubai taxi drivers' families
- New life-saving fleet of vehicles
Community Reports
-
Warming up to ‘Mobilise the Earth' theme
Dubai school dedicates a whole week to celebrating Earth Day with can-collection drives, sapling plantation and painting competition among others
-
Drivers using mobiles put others' lives at risk
Speeding is dangerous for the driver and other motorists
-
Supporting the needy with food supplies
Group of families engaged in serving isolated labour community hopes to motivate more people to help underprivileged and hungry
-
Leukaemia boy granted wish to meet footballer
Emirati meets hero Al Qahtani, Al Ain team
