EAD conducted tabletop exercise to mitigate red tide, fish kill events

ABU DHABI / WAM

The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) conducted a tabletop exercise, Med 1/2024, to explore possible responses to red tide and fish kill events in coordination with the Emergencies, Crises and Disaster Management Centre Abu Dhabi.
The exercise brought together 16 Abu Dhabi government entities to test their readiness for responding quickly and effectively to threats posed by red tide and fish kills in the emirate.
“The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi is the leading entity concerning the risk of red tide and fish kills, based on the emirate’s local risk register. This register is part of an integrated system for emergency, crisis, and disaster management at the local level in Abu Dhabi, aimed at raising the readiness of concerned entities to respond quickly and effectively to emergency situations and threats of all kinds,” said Khaled Mohammed Al Hajri, Director of the Emergency, Safety and Business Continuity Office at the Agency.
Al Hajri noted that during Exercise Tide 1/2024, various potential scenarios requiring complete readiness and preparedness of all relevant authorities were reviewed.
He emphasised the importance of work teams from each government entity committing to the general response plan for red tide events and fish deaths, given the urgency and impact on response speed in mitigating dangers and reducing effects.
Through these exercises, EAD seeks to achieve several main objectives, primarily raising the readiness of work teams trained on unified concepts within the emergency and crisis management system. This includes assigning roles and responsibilities, developing teams’ skills, fostering cooperation, and building a ‘one team’ ethos. The exercises also aim to test the efficiency of mechanisms, equipment, and smart systems for information exchange and financial resource allocation in emergencies, ensuring assets and resources are well-prepared for crisis response operations.
These exercises further aim to enhance the quality of planning, preparedness, and institutional readiness by measuring the effectiveness of the emergency response plan and the speed of response. They also involve assessing event data, gathering evidence, and following up on recovery processes. Additionally, the exercises help identify high-risk areas and future risks to develop proactive mitigation measures, and they support the continuous improvement of emergency response based on best local and international practices and standards.
The exercise included interactive discussion sessions where participants exchanged ideas and experiences, leading to practical recommendations for improving marine water quality sustainably. Key recommendations included enhancing public-private sector cooperation, applying modern water treatment technologies, and raising community awareness on preserving the marine environment.