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Abu Dhabi returns once endangered native fish species by supporting sustainable fishing practices that help local people
A few years ago, fish in the waters around the United Arab Emirates were threatened. Overfishing has wiped out some species and left others seriously threatened.
Populations of about 200 fish species have plummeted, and local species such as hammour, sherry and farsh have been caught three to five times above sustainable limits. At one point, the local fish population was only 10 percent compared to 1978 levels, when there were relatively more fish in the ocean.
The finding is shocking – it’s not just the lack of fish that is causing the damage. The UAE has a long tradition of fishing, and local fishermen used to rely on fishing as their main source of income.
The UAE acted quickly. They banned the most harmful nets, created marine protected areas and imposed fishing bans during certain seasons. They also hired fisheries experts to set up a national sustainable fisheries scientific research program that will run until 2030, with the ambitious goal of restoring 70 percent of the UAE’s fish stocks by that year.
The idea is that with a better understanding of the local fishery ecosystem, they will be better able to conduct aquaculture research and support fish programs. In this way, the pressure on the fishery will be reduced and the fish stock will recover.
Now, recent reports show that the amount of fish sustainably caught in Abu Dhabi waters is increasing. This is good news, meaning that at least 70% of the UAE’s fish stocks could be recovered by 2030 if current sustainable fishing practices and conservation efforts continue.
“Based on our detailed assessments and scientific studies of fish stocks at the Environment Agency (EAD) in Abu Dhabi…we have worked with our partners to create and implement a globally acceptable fish resource management system,” said His Excellency Dr. . Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of EAD.
“These efforts have led to the creation of several marine protected areas, the introduction and implementation of a licensing system for commercial and recreational fishing, and the regulation of the use of fishing equipment. This is in addition to implementing seasonal bans during the breeding season to protect fish, and for some Major species set minimum sizes of fish that can be caught, as well as banning unsustainable fishing methods.”
The good news for tourists and tour operators is that if you visit the right restaurants and businesses, you can see sustainable fishing practices in Abu Dhabi and even invest in vacations there.
Where to find sustainable fish in Abu Dhabi
Catch up with Abu Dhabi $$$
St Regis Abu Dhabi, Nation Riviera Beach Club, Corniche Road, Al Khubeirah, Opposite Nation Towers, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
This atmospheric fine-dining restaurant stands out among restaurants in Abu Dhabi for its smart, stylish design and relaxed beach club vibe. The whole room has a nautical theme, with large white wicker chairs and impressive water features.
There are many ideas on the menu, which focuses on seafood and features locally sourced sustainable fish from all over the UAE. The dishes are mostly Japanese, with a touch of creativity – think crab burgers with avocado and sliced bananas, or grilled Spanish octopus with piquillo sauce. But what really drew the crowd was the sushi platter.Skip the standard salmon nigiri and opt for more creative pairings like a coconut shrimp roll with oyster mushrooms and lime, or a “blowtorch roll” with salmon, tuna and orange Feiko (fish eggs).
fish market $$
King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud Street InterContinental, Abu Dhabi 4171 United Arab Emirates
If casual dining is more your style, head to the fish market at the InterContinental. Sure, it’s in a 5-star hotel, but stroll past the marble registration area and you’ll find yourself in a veritable fish market. Here, local fish, including hammel and sherry, pile high on the ice bed, alongside prawns, red mullet, sea bass and just about every other seafood imaginable.
The dining concept is simple: shop around and choose your favorite fish, then bring them to the cooking station and tell the chef how you want them cooked. We ordered seafood tom yum soup, prawn linguine and grilled ham with za’tar and basil. The source of each fish is listed on the chalkboard, which means you can choose local sustainable seafood for your meal.
Aluminum Shader $
Abu Dhabi Port Street Mina Fish Market, Al Mina, Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates
This relaxed Egyptian-style seafood grill is located in Abu Dhabi’s Fish Market. It’s packed with all the hustle and bustle you can imagine, with local fishermen dropping their morning catch in huge nets and fish of all colors and sizes billowing out.
The decor here is simple yet stylish, with pale wood tables and low-hanging fishnets hanging from the blue and white walls.
Choose your fish from the paper menu – we choose locally sourced sustainable sherry and hammour (sold by the kilo). Dishes are prepared in the traditional Egyptian cooking style, mostly using local herbs and spices on a barbecue. You can ask the chef to cook it however you like, but we recommend leaving it to the experts – they won’t let you down.
The hummus salad was a great appetizer and the grilled sea bass and lobster were some of the best we’ve had. Appetizers and sides are all Middle Eastern, from fattoush to tabbouleh, along with pickled tomatoes and the more unusual (but still delicious) caviar salad.
Private Fishing Adventure with ST Marine Charter
Marina Albatin Resort
ST Marine’s Private Fishing Adventure Boat Tours is an agency in Abu Dhabi. Join Captain John as he takes you aboard a 31-foot catamaran equipped with sophisticated fish-finding equipment. The trip takes about four hours and includes live fishing (where you can catch fish including naiser, snapper and catfish) and sea fishing (a type of larger fish including hammerfish, queenfish and pike). Sustainability is paramount and all the fish are back in the water.
For different things, they also do island hopping adventures and private cruises.
Abu Dhabi Maritime Heritage Festival
Abu Dhabi Corniche
Every March, the Abu Dhabi Maritime Heritage Festival takes place at Al Bahar on the city’s Corniche, a 10-day programme of workshops, performances, craft demonstrations and heritage trails all centered around the emirate’s maritime heritage. Stop by for sailing tours and shipbuilding workshops, as well as sustainable fishing lectures and pearl diving workshops.
There’s a traditional souk, street food stalls cooking up local specialities, including live cooking shows and sustainably caught seafood, as well as lectures that raise awareness of local maritime practices and celebrate the UAE capital’s impressive coastal history.
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