Today's Edition
Aleithad Staff (ABU DHABI)
After an impressive 108 days at sea, the Middle East’s most advanced research vessel, Jaywun, has achieved a significant milestone by successfully completing the first phase of the Fisheries Resources Assessment Survey (FRAS) in UAE waters, the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) announced on Sunday.
The vessel, manned by a team of UAE nationals from the EAD in collaboration with international experts, covered an expansive 324 sites across the UAE, where the team collected 1,500 samples to gain crucial insights into the region’s fish species and their habitats. The data gathered during the survey will be used to analyse, evaluate, and conserve the nation’s marine resources.
Throughout the project, nine UAE nationals underwent a total of 3,510 training hours, according to the EAD.
The vessel’s crew conducted additional critical research projects during their time at sea, including the first-ever comprehensive acoustic survey of the UAE’s waters. This groundbreaking two-week study, conducted in the Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, involved the use of advanced technology to examine underwater ecosystems and assess the population and distribution of marine life.
To conduct the acoustic survey, researchers used sound waves to estimate the abundance and distribution of fish populations in the ocean. Data analysis of the collected results can determine the size, density, and location of fish schools, which helps scientists assess the health and status of fish stocks and aids in sustainable fisheries management efforts.
Additionally, in collaboration with UAE cloud computing and AI company G42 and ocean exploration initiative OceanX, the research team accomplished the first eDNA (environmental DNA) baseline and genomic sequencing of fish species in the UAE. This innovative approach provides researchers with a deeper understanding of genetic diversity, allowing for more precise conservation and management strategies.
Executive Director of the Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity Sector at EAD, Ahmed Al Hashmi, said: “The successful completion of the first phase of the Fisheries Resources Assessment Survey marks a significant milestone for the UAE’s ongoing efforts to safeguard its marine environment. The invaluable data collected by the research vessel Jaywun and its dedicated team of UAE nationals will contribute to informed decision-making and sustainable management of the country’s fisheries resources. We have worked very hard over the past few years to increase our fish stocks, as this is vital for food security and the conservation of our fish species.”
Al Hashmi remarked that this project marks the first acoustic survey conducted in UAE waters, noting that the results will help the EAD gain a “much clearer and more accurate picture of marine life” in the Arabian Gulf and Sea of Oman.
“We developed Jaywun for the purpose of marine water research, and these are the first of several other research projects which will be conducted onboard the vessel,” he added.
