7 minute read
Vince McDonagh
Desert dreams
Saudi Arabia and its neighbours are looking to strengthen food security through fi sh farming
BY VINCE MCDONAGH
THE Arabian Peninsula is a forbidding place most of the year – even for those who call it home.
Searing hot winds, temperatures almost half way to boiling point and a seemingly unending desert would, at fi rst glance, hardly make it an ideal loca� on to start salmon farming.
However, if plans by various regional governments get off the ground, this could become one of the world’s leading centres for aquaculture within the next 20 years, both marine and land-based.
It is no mirage. Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the states that make up the United Arab Emirates have said they are ready to invest billions of dollars to make them almost self-suffi cient in seafood.
And in a region that has seen once sleepy fi shing villages transformed into modern super-ci� es in just a few decades, who can doubt them?
Saudi Arabia has been developing its seafood sector since the 1980s and now produces almost 80,000 tonnes from aquaculture and 60,000 tonnes from conven� onal fi shing.
But with its ci� zens consuming up to 300,000 tonnes annually, it s� ll needs to import far more than it can produce and the tradi� onal Saudi fi shing industry, mostly based around the Arabian Gulf and Red Sea, is not in the best of health. Fisheries minister Jabir-Al Shihri says this means aquaculture will become even more important in future.
The government is increasing its investment on aquaculture from 20bn Saudi Riyals (SR) to SR 60bn (£11.77bn) between now and 2040.
Most aquaculture projects will be designed around cages in water close to shore so the fi sh can be transferred to nearby processing sites and sold onto home and interna� onal customers.
The country’s Agriculture Development Fund is ready to fi nance this strategy to the tune of nearly £3bn.
While well over 2,000 highly qualifi ed technicians are thought to be working in the aquaculture sector, the country does not yet have its own specialist colleges, so more young yet have its own specialist colleges, so more young people will be sent overseas for training. people will be sent overseas for training.
Dr Ali Al-Shaikhi, CEO of the Na� onal Fishery Development Programme, told the Arab News recently: “We have launched an ini� a� ve to help develop 100 Saudi ci� zens to become aquaculture leaders, with 70% of the funds coming from the private sector and 70% from the government.
“And we have just signed an agreement with a local academic facility to train 3,000 Saudis for the aquaculture and fi sheries sector.
The country is seeking help from foreign governments and recrui� ng overseas academics to help it with this training ini� a� ve.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia will soon begin test produc� on on an aquaculture project by the Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC) focusing on the farming of na� ve species.
Venture director Michael Slage says the focus will be on na� ve species that are diffi cult to farm using
This page from top: Ocean Harvest signing ceremony; fi sh farm; � lapia Opposite: Saudi aquaculture poster
tradi� onal methods, but he stresses the highest standards will be adopted, avoiding the use of pes� cides and an� bio� cs. Instead, the project will involve working with nature. Dubai is known globally as a glamorous tourist des� na� on with fantas� c luxury hotels, but away from the glitz, a lot of work is going on to develop its own aquaculture industry . It is not just for home consump� on: Dubai sees con� nental Africa as a poten� ally huge export market.
A group of students at the UAE University College of Engineering have set up a project to develop a fi sh farming system for � lapia.
The project also has the backing of a Dubai-based interna� onal company, Asmak, which has said it will help develop it into a commercial venture if the trials are successful.
And the UAE is working closely with India to help enhance its food security, mainly through fi sh farming and sustainable fi shing prac� ces.
The Emirates have the innova� ve technology, while India has the land, water and experience so together they have the poten� al to develop smart fi sh farming.
As part of another strategy, the UAE last summer laid out a na� onal aquaculture roadmap though which it hopes to a� ract interna� onal investment.
A recent report from the Arab Organisa� on for Agricultural Development showed that UAE residents eat 25kg per head each year, nearly twice the world average.
Dubai is developing its own salmon farming sector and is also working on other species such as sea bass. Fish feed is currently imported, but it eventually hopes to produce its own supply.
In Abu Dhabi, a partnership between the investment offi ce and the company Pure Salmon is receiving funding to expand food sustainability through salmon farming.
Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of the Abu Dhabi Environment Agency, told the
Khaleej Times recently: “The aquaculture sector standards will be adopted, avoiding the use of has been iden� fi ed as a priority sector for develpes� cides and an� bio� cs. Instead, the project opment by the Government of Abu Dhabi.” will involve working with nature. She added: “One of the key ini� a� ves seeks to encourage economic investment in the sector, thereby reducing pressure on the UAE’s severely overexploited fi sheries, providing meaningful employment and genera� ng wealth for ci� zens by producing safe, wholesome and high-quality sees con� nental Africa as a poten� ally huge seafood products.” export market. In February, a consor� um of European and
A group of students at the UAE University Middle Eastern businesses announced plans to College of Engineering have set up a project to build a land-based salmon farm in Abu Dhabi in develop a fi sh farming system for � lapia. the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The project also has the backing of a Du- The companies behind the recircula� ng aquabai-based interna� onal company, Asmak, which culture systems (RAS) farm plan are Tech Group, has said it will help develop it into a commercial a UAE-based diversifi ed group of companies; Ocean Harvest, a technology-enabled aquaculture business recently set up in the UAE; and Belgian construc� on group BESIX. Ocean Harvest’s fi rst project is being delivered together with industry-leading RAS technology partner and supplier Billund Aquaculture A/S and global water treatment leader, SUEZ – Water Technologies & Solu� ons. The project aims to supply 2,000 metric tonnes per year of premium-quality, locally grown Atlan� c salmon to the UAE. In conjunc� on with the partnership, BESIX and Tech Group will join Ocean Harvest’s Board of Directors as investors and “Strategic Partners”. Ocean Harvest has secured US $1m in pre-seed capital to fund its design and engineering ac� vi� es from BESIX, Tech Group and leading angel investors. Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Founder and Chairman of Tech Group, says: “Tech Group is dedicated towards the con� nuous pursuit of innova� ve opportuni� es that support the sustainable development of the UAE. Food security is among the most important priori� es in the UAE na� onal agenda, and we believe that our partnership with Ocean Harvest will generate a true and tangible impact for our society.”
Qatar, though not part of the UAE, has also unveiled plans to become more self-suffi cient in food by accelera� ng the development of its own fi sh farming industry. Working with private industry, it aims to set up fi sh and shrimp farms, and an aqua� c biology research centre. FF
SEAFOOD SCOTLAND IN DUBAI
Seafood Scotland is already alive to the poten� al in the Middle East. In February, the marke� ng body, joined by several Sco� sh seafood companies, a� ended the Gulfood Exhibi� on in Dubai, which brought together more than 4,000 food-related companies. The companies included Loch Fyne Oysters, Mowi and The Sco� sh Salmon Company. Natalie Bell, Head of Trade Marke� ng at Seafood Scotland, says: “Gulfood has always kicked off our trade show calendar and we are thrilled to be in Middle East again.”
