Her Excellency Mariam Almheiri, UAE Minister of State for Food and Water Security, said: “Enhancing the capacity of the UAE’s aquaculture and fisheries sector is an important aspect of the National Food Security Strategy, especially as the UAE population consumes around 30 kg per person each year, well above the global average of 20.5 kg per person per year.”
“ASMAK’s new seafood processing facility will greatly boost the UAE’s capacity to process seafood products, effectively meeting local demand for fish and seafood,” H.E. added.
“The UAE Government greatly values the aquaculture sector and has invested more than AED200 million to develop hatcheries and research centres, with the aim of creating a sustainable food value chain from controlled freshwater and seawater environments,” H.E. Almheiri explained. “These concerted efforts in the sector have led to a spike in the volumes of seafood and various seafood products produced in an effort to meet national food needs.”