The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, MoCCAE, and Delma Marine Industrial Supply and Marine Services Company, Delma Marine, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, to build artificial habitats to ensure the sustainability of the marine environment and step up the development of living aquatic resources in the UAE.
The MoU was signed by Dr. Thani Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, and Ayoub Al Khajah, Director-General of Delma Marine.
Dr. Al Zeyoudi said, "This agreement aims to strengthen the partnership between the government and private sectors and promote the value of social responsibility among private sector companies. The ‘Zayed Marine Shields’ initiative includes installation of 200 artificial caves as part of ‘Year of Zayed’ initiative to support the sustainability of the marine environment, promote research and studies on marine biodiversity, build incubators for young fish in the coastal marine environment and to enhance the fisheries stock.
He added that the agreement aims to support the ‘Artificial Caves Programme’ launched by the ministry in 2016 as part of the ongoing efforts to promote fishing as an occupation and improve the sustainability of the fish stock.
The minister expressed his gratitude to Delma Marine for its contribution to the programme and said the effort served as a shining example to demonstrate the social responsibility commitment of private sector organisations. He was confident that similar sustained efforts would, in turn, lead to more constructive partnerships in the implementation of green technology and ensure a productive and sustainable future for generations to come.
Delma Marine will undertake the manufacturing and installation of 200 caves using eco-friendly materials in areas identified by the ministry in collaboration with concerned environmental authorities. The installation will start in April 2018.
Ayoub Al Khajah said that Delma Marine was delighted to be granted the opportunity to cooperate with the ministry in the field of fish stock replenishment. "The Installation of ‘Zayed Marine Reserves’ will start next year as part of the activities of Year of Zayed," he added.
The Artificial Caves Programme, launched by the Ministry to implement in 2016, included the establishment of an artificial marine reserve in Ras Dhadna with 400 cement caves, the creation of five fishing sites using artificial caves in the Bird Island of Dibba, five fishing sites using 150 artificial caves in the emirate of Umm Al Qaiwain, and installation of 150 caves in the Emirate of Ajman in a 300 square metres location.
As part of the cooperation with the Ministry, the Ras al-Khaimah Environmental Protection and Development Authority, has installed 600 artificial caves in a protected area in the emirate. The Environment and Nature Reserves Authority in Sharjah has completed a project establishing 72 marine shields in the eastern region of the country, 56 of them in Kalba and 16 in Dibba Al Hosn.