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ABU DHABI, 8th February, 2023 (WAM) — Miral, a leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences, and SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment have announced the opening of Yas Seaworld Research and Rescue Centre, the first dedicated marine research, rescue, rehabilitation and return center in the region.
Located on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, the 8,602sqm center will be a key contributor to the conservation of marine life in the UAE and the wider region through comprehensive research, rescue, rehabilitation, return and education programmes.
Attended by Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and the Environment, Chairman Miral Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, as well as a number of UAE officials and senior representatives of SeaWorld Parks and Recreation, the opening of the center is a commitment to the UAE Declaration 2023 for Sustainable years of development.
The Center’s work aims to increase public awareness and commitment to the conservation of marine wildlife, habitats and ecosystems in the region, drawing on the experience and Knowledge.
Commenting on the milestone, Al Mubarak said: “We are very proud to start 2023, the UAE’s Year of Sustainability, with the opening of the region’s first dedicated marine research and rescue centre, Yas Oceanworld Research and Rescue. Center. It is the cornerstone of the emirate’s educational and conservation journey, inspiring the next generation of marine scientists to learn more about Abu Dhabi’s influential long-term vision for protecting our marine wildlife and their habitats. Together with SeaWorld, we will push the limits of science and conservation and become the foremost knowledge center for marine scientists, not only in the UAE but the wider region.”
Led by a dedicated team of marine scientists, zoologists and subject matter experts in research, rescue and animal care, the center will play a key role in research and conservation efforts in the region. The center’s research team will conduct basic and applied research focusing on marine ecology in the Arabian Gulf, covering marine biodiversity, ecosystem resilience, protection of sensitive wildlife, restoration of critical habitats, fisheries, pollution and wildlife health theme.
Scott Ross, Chairman of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, said: “We are extremely proud to be partnering with Miral to bring this first-of-its-kind center to the UAE. Today’s inauguration has been years in the making and we are very excited to make this official announcement and continue our work together , to promote the protection of the region’s amazing and incredibly diverse marine life. For nearly 60 years, SeaWorld has maintained its unwavering mission and unwavering commitment to protecting marine animals and their ecosystems, and inspiring others to take action Conserving marine life. Continuing this legacy in the UAE is important to global conservation and is in line with the UAE and wider region’s tradition of respecting the importance of the ocean.”
Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue aims to rescue sick, injured and orphaned marine animals in the Arabian Gulf and provides life-saving rehabilitation services with the goal of returning healthy animals to their natural habitat. To achieve this, the center will have a rescue fleet including two custom-built rescue boats and a state-of-the-art veterinary hospital for triaging animals in critical condition.
The center will also feature more than 25 rescue tanks ranging from large marine mammal pools to small fish, invertebrate and marine reptile pools. Two of the larger pools are equipped with raised floors, which will allow for easier treatment and less disturbance to the animals. The center’s on-site laboratories are also equipped with advanced rescue and rehabilitation capabilities, including the ability to conduct internal pathological analysis of wild animals.
The center will also focus on applied research on marine ecosystem restoration, including aquaculture projects such as fish breeding, seagrass farming, coral breeding, and focus on critical habitats in the waters of the Arabian Gulf (such as seagrasses, mangroves, oyster beds and corals) Field Project Coral Reefs.
This has only been made possible by some of the best subject matter researchers and scientists, and utilizing the centre’s state-of-the-art laboratories and infrastructure, including three dry laboratories, a wet laboratory and a 345 cubic meter aquaculture facility. Research made possible These include live feed culture rooms, broodstock tanks and larval culture tanks. The center’s research teams will conduct most of their research using a 12.5-meter research vessel equipped with the latest field equipment.
As part of its commitment to increasing public knowledge and inspiring the next generation of marine biologists, the Center’s education arm will bring together a team of skilled marine scientists and a dedicated team of marine animal rescue experts.
Together with SeaWorld Abu Dhabi’s joint team of expert educators, the center has a dry classroom and a fully equipped wet classroom for science experiment activities, in addition to a high-tech auditorium that seats 160. The Center will host workshops and lectures on its grounds and schools, providing learning and training opportunities for students and educators in the sciences and conservation of marine life.
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