Fish museum nearing completion

Work on the fish museum, which is being set up by Dubai Municipality in the Deira Fish Market, is nearing completion with the decoration work in progress.

"As part of the decoration work, we have decided to adorn the museum with replicas of a dolphin and a shark," said Humaid Saeed Al Marri, Director of the Markets and Abattoirs Department.

Instead of buying models from abroad, which is costly, we came up with an idea of making it locally, he said.

"Our artist, Abdul Fattah Malha, made two full size replicas of a dolphin and a shark. It took him six months to finish the work," said Al Marri.

He explained that the replicas will be hung from the ceiling of the museum, which is named "Fisherman's House", as part of the effort to give the place a different look.

Malha was honoured by Al Marri recently at a ceremony held at the Advertisement Section of Dubai Municipality along with those who supported the setting up of the museum.

Al Marri said the museum will provide information on the varieties of fish available in the UAE waters. He said a lot of European tourists visit the fish market every year.

"According to the statistics in 2000, 50 per cent of the 18,000 tourists who visited the fish market in Deira were from Germany and 20 per cent each from the UK and Italy and the rest from other parts of Europe, Japan, China and Hong Kong," noted Al Marri.

The museum, which will be an addition to the fish market, will comprise three parts, he said.

"The first part will display equipment used by UAE fishermen, the second will show the fishing boats and the third will have information on the varieties of fish available in the country. There are over 350 known species of fish in the UAE waters. There will be information on where each type of fish is found and the fishing seasons for them," said Al Marri.

He said the museum will also provide an introduction to the types of food with fish in the Gulf countries, including methods of cooking.

Al Marri pointed out that a receptionist-cum guide will be appointed at the museum to receive tourists and explain the traditional fishing equipment and other items on display. Entry to the museum will be free.

As the museum is the first of its kind in the country, letters will be sent to all the public and private schools with the co-operation of the Ministry of Education and Youth, in order to promote it, said Al Marri.

"Aimed at school visitors, colourful posters are prepared in co-operation with the Public Relations Section," he said.

"These posters will display the photos of these fish, which will attract a good number of students. In addition to this, there will be brochures and books on fish, explaining the types of fish, different methods of fishing, and types of boats used in fishing," he added.