TAKING OUT TOO MUCH, TOO SOON

Since 1978, the UAE has seen an overall decline of 80% in the average stock size for all commercial species.

Species status and levels of fishing for some fish species found in the UAE
(Based on stock assessments carried out by the Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi)

Recent studies show that fish of many species are caught beyond sustainable levels in the UAE. In the case of the Hamour, for example, the current fishing rate is over 7 times higher than the level that would maintain a healthy population. There are clear signs that fishing is affecting several species. Some of the consequences that have been observed are:

• Low maximum age: The fish that are caught keep getting younger. We no longer find the same number of older fish that would normally be found in a healthy stock. Hamour can live up to 30 years, but today, the oldest fish that can be found is only 11 years old.
• High juvenile retention: Most fish we find on the market today are small juveniles. These fish have not had a chance to mature and produce eggs. In the case of Kanaad or Kingfish, 95% of landed fish are immature. Similarly, for Zuraidi fish, 71% of the catch comprises of fish smaller than the size at which they reach maturity.
• Lower numbers of males: For some species, more females than males are naturally present in the population (e.g. Hamour). However large individuals are heavily targeted by fishing. Since these are usually male, the sex ratio becomes even more imbalanced. This interferes with the species' ability to reproduce.

All these effects are a result of overfishing, which stems from high demand for a small number of popular species. In other words, we have unsustainable consumption and exploitation.