Dibba Bay Oyster Farm

OBTAINS FRIEND OF THE SEA CERTIFICATION MAKING IT THE ONLY CERTIFIED AQUACULTURE FARM IN THE REGION

On the 5th July 2022, a Friend of the Sea Sustainable Aquaculture certification was officially awarded to the Dibba Bay Oyster Farm in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates. Friend of the Sea is the leading global certification standard for products and services that respect and protect the marine environment. Dibba Bay is the first farm in the Middle East to grow gourmet oysters and is located on the East Coast of the UAE in Dibba; where they grow millions of oysters in the pristine and nutrient-rich waters of Fujairah.

To be a certified Friend of the Sea institution, aquaculture facilities must meet strict sustainable policies, waste management regulations, and social responsibilities. The Friend of the Sea certification covers Dibba Bay’s sustainable aquafarming for oysters, covering the Crassostrea gigas species. The certification also covers Dibba Bay’s packing and export operations with traceability being a key focus.

“Our mission as an oyster farm has always been to protect our oceans and involve sustainable practices in all aspects of our business to safeguard the integrity of aquatic life. We are proud to be acknowledged by Friend of the Sea for our sustainable farming practices. It’s important to us that there is an accredited third party certifying our work; sustainability demonstrated with a third-party certification will help consumers choose more consciously” says Ramie Murray, Founder and CEO of Dibba Bay Oysters.

Friend of the Sea’s Sustainable Aquaculture Certification criteria involves an environmental impact assessment which must confirm no impact on critical habitat, compliance with water quality parameters, no use of harmful antifouling nor growth hormones, compliance with water quality management, social accountability, and continuous improvement of waste and energy management.

As part of their waste management programme, dried Dibba Bay oyster shells are being returned to the ocean in non-pollutive gabion cylinders that are 80cm high which act as building blocks to protect coral reefs in Dibba, Fujairah. The shell structures are offering a substrate for coral growth and new habitat for marine life.

“Obtaining this certificate proves not only that Dibba Bay conducts a responsible farming operation according to Friend of the Sea’s standards, but also that the company has a broader commitment to protecting the environment,” said Paolo Bray, Founder and Director of Friend of the Sea.

As the first farm in the UAE to receive the Friend of the Sea certification, Dibba Bay is supporting the country’s Food Security goals by providing a certified sustainable food product for local and international consumption.

ABOUT DIBBA BAY

Founded in 2016, Dibba Bay is the first shellfish farm in the Middle East, based in Dibba, Fujairah. Dibba Bay oysters are farmed in Dibba, Fujairah, UAE by East Coast Shellfish LLC. The farm is a 90 minute drive from Dubai and harvesting takes place three times a week, every week of the year to ensure incredibly fresh oysters are delivered to customers in a regular and reliable fashion. The Dibba Bay oyster is a sustainably farmed local product of the UAE with a growing reputation as a world class gourmet product. In 2021, Dibba Bay completed a new state-of-the-art production facility which is gearing up to produce half a million oysters a month. A large percentage of the produce is going for export to countries that include Hong Kong, Maldives, Mauritius and Seychelles.

The company has strengthened its production line and brand strategy with a mission crafted to translate its further growth, notably in becoming a global shellfish company. Achieving this goal will put yet another unique UAE product under the international spotlight and show the ability of the country to continuously innovate. www.dibbabay.com

ABOUT FRIEND OF THE SEA

Friend of the Sea, a World Sustainability Organisation project, awards sustainable practices in Fisheries, Aquaculture, Fishmeal, and Omega-3 Fish Oil. In addition, the organisation promotes projects related to restaurants, sustainable shipping, whale and dolphin- watching, aquaria, ornamental fish, UV creams, and others. It is the only sustainable fisheries and aquaculture certification programme recognised and supervised globally by European National Accreditation Agencies. www.friendofthesea.org