The UAE Ministry of Environment and Water (MoEW) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nor-Fishing Foundation and Informa Middle East Limited, one of the region's leading providers of high quality conferences, to organize 'Aqua Middle East' (AquaME) and 'Aqua ME Summit' in conjunction with AgraME taking place from 16-18 March 2015 at the Dubai Exhibition and Convention Centre.

 

The partnership is a move to consolidate and encourage cooperation to improve the aquaculture sector which falls in line with the UAE's strategic objectives to promote food security and environmental sustainability contributing to the UAE's Vision 2021.

 

Under this MoU, all parties will work in close collaboration towards promoting the development of the aquaculture and fishing industry by hosting an exhibition to attract local and international suppliers from within these industries. Furthermore, in parallel to the trade show, the AquaME Summit, the second edition of the Aquaculture Investment Forum, will be organized to bring experts and specialists from around the world to exchange experiences, transfer knowledge and review best practices, advances and innovations in research, science and technology -- thereby strengthening the aquaculture and fishing industry in the UAE. The first forum, which was held in November 2013, saw the participation of scientists, speakers, international experts in aquaculture from within the GCC region and internationally.

 

It is worth mentioning that the total current market valuation of investments in to the UAE aquaculture sector stands at USD 321 million, with 20 million of that amount being invested in to the Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Marine Research Centre. The project, which was launched in February 2013, aims to produce 10 million juveniles per year of local indigenous species and will contribute to enhancing food security in the UAE. Furthermore, the center will support research focusing on overexploited species and habitat conservation measures.