MoCCAE to build artificial habitats to ensure sustainability of marine environment

Dubai / WAM

The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MoCCAE) will build artificial habitats to ensure the sustainability of the marine environment and step up the development of living aquatic resources in the UAE.
The ministry on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in this respect with Delma Marine Industrial Supply and Marine Services Company (Delma Marine).
Dr. Thani Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment and Ayoub Al Khajah, Director-General of Delma Marine signed the MoU.
Dr. Al Zeyoudi said: “The MoU aims to strengthen the partnership between the government and private sectors and promote the value of social responsibility among private sector companies. Social responsibility is one of the core elements of the ‘Year of Giving’ initiative launched by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The MoU is part of the ongoing efforts of the Ministry as well as other concerned environmental authorities to ensure the sustainability of our marine environment and livestock.”
He added that the MoU aims to support the ‘Artificial Caves Programme’ launched by the ministry in 2016 to install 900 artificial caves in select marine areas with the aim of promoting fishing as an occupation and improving the sustainability of fish stock. In addition to strengthening the regulation for fishing as an occupation and minimizing the obstacles in the lives of fishermen, the MoU also mandates increasing the
productivity of fish stock and strengthening national food
security.
The MoU will facilitate the creation of safe shelters suitable for the growth of fish and other marine species. Delma Marine will undertake the manufacturing of 1000 caves using eco-friendly materials and position them in areas identified by the ministry in collaboration with concerned environmental authorities. The first batch of man-made caves is set for completion in April 2017.
Al Khajah commented, “At Delma Marine, we are always keen to support sustainable development efforts through applying the latest eco-friendly solutions and advanced technologies to raise capacity in protecting the environment. We seek to do our bit in contributing to support the directives of the federal and local government authorities towards spreading the culture of sustainability and promoting the green economy.”