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The Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi (EAD), in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), is working together to revive the heritage and traditions of the UAE’s pearl industry. The Abu Dhabi Pearls project involves the sustainable cultivation of high-quality pearls in the warm waters of the Arabian Gulf.
The project is part of a wider collaboration between FAO and the UAE’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE), which focuses on introducing sustainable aquaculture and building a sector that creates jobs, protects the environment and supports long-term livelihoods.
In 2019, EAD launched the Abu Dhabi Sustainable Aquaculture Policy, which aims to promote the growth and competitiveness of the emirate’s aquaculture industry in order to alleviate the pressure of overexploitation of local fisheries. FAO is the main partner in the project, supporting and developing research related to aquaculture.
sustainable farming
Established in 2007, the Abu Dhabi Pearl Project set an ambitious goal to farm approximately 80,000 oysters in the emirate’s waters, producing approximately 20,000 high-quality and sustainable pearls per year. Through this project, EAD aims to provide a platform for education and awareness about sustainable oyster farming by organizing visits to schoolchildren, government offices and institutions, and foreign delegations.
Since its inception, the program has helped revive the industry’s heritage and preserve local oysters and pearls through its involvement in local and international events. Joint projects with educational institutions have also been launched, as well as technical components for creating jewelry designs using cultured pearls.
Within the framework of the existing collaboration between FAO and EAD, both parties seek to clarify pearl farming techniques and at the same time promote them as an important model of sustainable aquaculture with numerous environmental, social and economic benefits. Partnerships include knowledge sharing, provision of technical support and organization of technical workshops on aquaculture. The IAEA and FAO also collaborate closely to highlight EAD’s efforts in pearl farming as a global example of successful, sustainable aquaculture.
bring expertise
Furthermore, UNEP-Abu Dhabi is an important partner of FAO, thanks to its pioneering work in the fields of fisheries and aquaculture, which are key sectors of the UN organisation. By bringing together global and local expertise, the partnership between EAD and FAO will help support and develop the emirate’s aquaculture industry.
By highlighting the UAE’s expertise and achievements in this field, EAD and FAO aim to strengthen the aquaculture sector, making it more energy efficient and sustainable, and providing economic benefits to meet the demands associated with population growth. With technical support from FAO, the UAE is investing in modern technologies to develop a sustainable and economically viable aquaculture sector to protect the country’s fish stocks and enhance its food security. This also combines the traditional cultural heritage of pearl diving with modern technology.
pearl item
Commenting on the collaboration, Ahmed Al Hashemi, Executive Director of Biodiversity on Land and Sea at EAD, said: “This comprehensive partnership with FAO helps facilitate the Abu Dhabi Pearl Project – one of the leading aquaculture projects in the region. The agency proposes an approach to revive Abu Dhabi’s pearling heritage through the application of modern and sustainable practices.
“Pearl fishing was once a high-risk occupation that offered seasonal employment and the opportunity to get rich and prosper. It was not just a trade or a means of livelihood, but a fully integrated social system, A rich traditional heritage has been bred.At EAD we continually seek to preserve our national heritage while protecting the environment, and the development of sustainable practices in aquaculture, supported by our fruitful collaboration with FAO, is driving our efforts. ”
Lionel Dabbadie, Senior Aquaculture and Fisheries Officer at FAO Abu Dhabi, said: “The pearl oyster project designed and implemented by EAD not only provides a source of income for young Emirati entrepreneurs, but also helps to preserve biodiversity and preserve ecosystems , in line with the Blue Transformation goals advocated by FAO. By partnering with EAD, FAO looks forward to developing sustainable aquaculture and contributing to the UAE’s goal of becoming a world-leading center for innovation-driven food security by 2051.”
Eco-tourism
The Abu Dhabi Pearl Project is mainly divided into four phases; the first phase aims to promote eco-tourism within the emirate by highlighting the traditions and heritage of the UAE, and the second phase includes marketing the products of the Abu Dhabi Pearl Project.
The next phase of the project is to conduct scientific and practical experiments to enhance knowledge in the field of oyster aquaculture to improve production and pearl quality. Finally, the fourth phase aims to raise awareness of sustainable oyster culture among the younger generation by organizing school and university student visits and participating in local and international events. — trade arab news agency
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