Our oceans are currently undergoing a sea of change! The biodiversity of our marine ecosystems is known to be unparalleled. For many years, most of us believed that our actions could never have an effect on our vast and wondrous underwater world. The popular assumption was that the ocean, and its resources, would always be there to sustain us, and that the world’s fisheries were keeping pace with the increased demand from a growing global population.
In recent years, however, it has become clear that this is far from the truth, and that our actions are, indeed, affecting our marine environment. Unsustainable fishing is a global problem with almost 80% of the world’s fisheries being fully- to overexploited, depleted or recovering from depletion, according to the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). We are simply taking out more than what the oceans can provide, and as a result, Fished out for us UAE stocks are in decline, time for us to ‘Choose Wisely’ placing the populations of a wide variety of marine organisms under duress. Unsustainable fishing not only affects fish stocks and the marine ecosystem, it also threatens the livelihoods of many of those that rely on fishing for food and income. Fish stocks worldwide are experiencing heavy pressure due to exploitation and the stocks in the Gulf region are no exception. Stock assessment studies carried out by government bodies indicate that overall, the UAE’s fish populations have declined by about 80% in the past 30 years.
This dramatic reduction can be attributed to the degradation of the nation’s coastal environment, with the loss of important marine habitat, as well as to unsustainable fishing. On the 25th of April, 2010, Emirates Wildlife Society, a local non government organization that works in association with the leading international conservation body, the World Wide Fund for Nature (EWS-WWF), launched ‘Choose Wisely’, an awareness campaign to promote sustainable fish choices in the United Arab Emirates. . Unsustainable fishing is a practice that affects the status or ‘health’ of fish populations and their surrounding environment; it may include:
• taking out too many fish in a short amount of time to supply the high demand for popular varieties (i.e. Hamour, Kingfish)
• taking out juvenile fish that have not had a chance to mature,
• excess fishing in important spawning areas and seasons ( where fish release their eggs)
• catching non-target species that are then discarded ( marine turtles, sharks in some cases)
• damaging habitats by polluting, anchoring in reef areas or discarding fishing gear (abandoning cages or nets at sea) EWS-WWF is the first organisation to highlight the unsustainable exploitation of marine fish in the Middle East region and specifically in the Gulf.
‘Choose Wisely’ aims at raising awareness amongst UAE residents, businesses, retailers and restaurants of the overfishing of local stocks, by communicating the threats facing several popular varieties of fish. Through this campaign, the organisation strives to emphasize the severe decline in UAE fish stocks in the past 30 years, with special attention to some species, such as the Hamour, that are currently being fished at over 7 times the recommended sustainable level. Sadly, Hamour is not the only fish in need of a break. Seven other local species are currently being fished out in excess, including Kanaad (Kingfish), Shaari (Spangled emperor), Farsh (Painted sweetlips), Zuraidi (Golden Trevally), Yemah (Snub nose emperor), Qabit (Goldlined seabream) and Safi Arabi (Rabbitfish). Local fish are a part of the staple Emirati diet and the UAE has a long-standing fishing tradition; the protection of fish resources therefore holds cultural significance as well as benefitting marine ecosystems and biodiversity. The ‘Choose Wisely’ campaign endeavours to empower consumers to be part of the solution and make responsible choices when it comes to fish consumption. A nationwide consumer survey found that 66% of UAE residents eat fish at least once a week, but 70% declared that they would be less likely to consume a particular species if they knew it was being overfished. This indicates that, indeed, there is a significant level of concern for protecting this resource. In order to provide UAE residents with practical tools to help make informed decisions when it comes to buying or catching fish, EWS-WWF along with the Environment Agency -Abu Dhabi (EAD) has produced a pocket sized guide which classifies 19 local species of fish into 3 major categories, The classification in this first edition of the consumer guide is based on stock assessment studies that have been carried out by fisheries scientists. The guide assigns a colour to each of those categories; Red – overfished stock so ‘Think again’, Orange – stock exploited within sustainable levels ,so it represents a ‘Good choice but there is better’; and Green – stock is not experiencing heavy fishing pressure so ‘Go for it!’ . The guide is available online as well as in print from EWS-WWF offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Fujairah. For those who enjoy cooking, the campaign has launched a “Sustainable Fish Dish” challenge, encouraging everyone to develop recipes for sustainable fish and submit them online during the next five months to enter the competition. Knowing how to cook a fish is an important factor when deciding what to buy, and with the campaign’s fish dish challenge, many soon discover that sustainable varieties are just as easy to cook with and can be just as delicious. The Choose Wisely website features a collection of tried and tested sustainable recipes submitted by EWS volunteers: proof that yes, it is possible to create a delicious dish with a fish other than Hamour! Get online and vote for your favourite recipe, or try submitting your own sustainable creation. For those that enjoy fishing, the campaign urges all to be aware of the status of the 8 fish species that are listed as ‘Red”, and to keep in mind the following simple guidelines:
• Be aware of the rules and regulations applicable to the area you intend to fish in and obtain the proper permits.
• Be aware that spear fishing is illegal
• Release a fish if you do not intend to eat it, in particular if it is a juvenile or if it is classified as ‘RED’.
• Respect marine protected areas and other areas closed to fishing. Marine protected areas are essential for providing fish a safe haven in which to feed and grow
• Do not damage coral reefs or sea grass areas with boat anchors
• Do not throw any type of litter into the sea.
The solution to overfishing is in our hands: It is high time that we start taking note of what is happening to our fish stocks and learn more about how our actions can help protect this precious resource. To know more about the campaign and to download the UAE fish consumer guide, log on to: www.choosewisely.ae Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD) The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) is a governmental agency that was established in 1996. It is committed to protecting and managing biodiversity, providing a clean environment and promoting Sustainable Development in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. EAD provides a direction for Government, business and the community to build environmental considerations into the way they plan and live without compromising Abu Dhabi development. EAD has been promoting public environmental awareness since it was established. EAD’s environmental education efforts have won several awards including the International Globe Energy Award and the GCC Award for Environment Education and Awareness. For more information please visit www.ead.ae Emirates Wildlife Society in association with WWF (EWS-WWF) Emirates Wildlife Society is a national (UAE) environmental non-governmental organization. EWS is established under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Western region and Chairman of Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD). EWS works in association with WWF, one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with more than 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. EWS-WWF has been active in the UAE since 2001 and has initiated and implemented several conservation and education projects in the region. The mission of EWS-WWF is to conserve the natural heritage of the UAE and to promote sustainable lifestyles.For more information please visit www.ewswwf.ae
Published in September 2010
