- 1,400 tonnes of fish produced every year in fish farms
- 850-900 licensed fishing boats in Dubai, 2007
- 3,500 unregulated fishing boats in Dubai, 2000
- 5,000 licensed fishing boats across the UAE today
Regulations
Under UAE law it is illegal to: catch undersize fish [size requirements differ depending on the species], to use less than 2 inch mesh in fish traps or less than 1 inch fishing nets. Bottom trawling is also not allowed in the territorial waters of the UAE.
Fish farms
International fish farming company Asmak set up the only fish farm in the UAE, based in Dibba, in 1999. The fish farm produces around 1,400 tonnes of fish annually, according to farm manager Leonidas Gavelas.
The fish is produced in protected sea areas and are harvested for resale. The main variety is royal bream. A government marine resources research centre based in Umm Al Quwain opened in 1983.
The number of fish fingerlings reared and released into the sea varies from 200,000 to 500,000 annually.
Shark fins
Shark fins are a popular delicacy in the UAE. Considered an aphrodisiac, a kilo can set you back between Dh300 and Dh700. Finning is prohibited in the UAE as is bringing shark fins to shore separate from the body.
Therefore catching shark is legal as long as it is brought back to shore and all parts are put on the market. Comparatively though, they are not worth much.
