In UAE, when we go to a seafood restaurant, we find that the most common fish being eaten are Hammour or Grouper fishes, either grilled or fried. It may be the most common fish in the restaurant, but very few people know that it's numbers in the UAE are declining very fast. In fact it is one of the most overfished species in the world. Experts are of the opinion that these fishes are being hunted down to 7 times beyond the sustainable levels and also some other estimate says that there can be a reduction up to 70 per cent of total population in the next 5 years if the current situation continues.
Also, juvenile fishing is a big concern for the country. The govt. bans the fishing of hammour fishes which have a length of less than 45 cm. Any hammour fish less than 45 cm is considered to be a violation of law, and the fisherman is supposed to send back it to the water (The hammour have the ability to live out of water for up to 8 hours. This means there is a big chance to save them from unfair fishing).
The problem of overfishing does not only reside with the UAE and the hammour but also with other fishes like the shark and the tuna. The best example of this ecological and economical dangers of overfishing is found in Newfoundland, Canada. In 1992 the once thriving cod fishing industry came to a sudden and full stop when at the start of the fishing season no cod appeared (ref : http://overfishing.org). These fishes are now classified in the IUCN Red List as near threatened and endangered. Here the question arrives 'What can we do?'
Picking the right fish to eat may help save some of the ocean's most endangered species. We can go to supermarkets or shops and checkt the sizes of the fishes what they are selling. If that does not meet with the standard/regulations set by authorities, we can bring up this issue with the owners/shop keepers. Also we can write to hotels asking them to put more sustainable seafood options in their menus and that the fishes be labeled according to their species status. I have seen one report that a Dubai Club chef has taken action not to include any Hammour fish and any under sized fish into their menu. We need to have this kind of awareness across the society.
With these efforts, we will be able to save the wonderful marine life that we find in the deep blue seas and oceans. Let us join hands together and spread awareness.
| 
Previous : Nuclear Plants right next to a...
13 Comments
Thank you for sharing.
Posted 30-08-2013 14:09
Thanks for shring........very informative
Posted 06-02-2013 02:17
Thanks for the information. Same concern is an issue in Korea which has three sides surrounded by sea as well..
Posted 02-02-2013 11:09
Thx rajashree & Shibajyoti (how you come up with such wonderful poems each time???)
Posted 01-02-2013 00:17
Thanks for raising issues related to water ecosystem.
Posted 31-01-2013 21:23
Thank you brother Unmesh,
Your fishes are looking fresh,
We like to do what is convenient,
Without knowing real requirement.
Posted 31-01-2013 02:06
Thank you for sharing it
Posted 30-01-2013 19:19
Yes we should conserve all living being for maintaining the ecosystem of the earth...... for this youth should have to play important role for conservation activities......
Posted 29-01-2013 23:43
Christy : Yes, very true, there are many other fishes fall in this catagory like Dorie, shark etc...but I mentioned hammour , may be because I like that very much ha ha ha!!
Posted 29-01-2013 22:21
@Achmad & Nuzulridha : thx for your comments...spreading awareness on the issue is a major action...many of our friends in our community even do't know about the danger...
Posted 29-01-2013 22:18
Good idea, ya we must stop illegal fishing
Posted 29-01-2013 19:51
Thank you Unmesh, you made a really important point which most people are not aware of.
When I was staying in middle east countries, I went to see food restaurant often.
And there were many menus using small size fishes. Maybe because of the appetite.
Not just for Hammour or Grouper fish, it is a really big threat to water ecosystem.
How can we limit the greed of human...?
Posted 29-01-2013 10:01
Assalam..Hi Unmesh, yup we must stop illegal fishing ensuing in your country especially, but as we know to alleviate it, a lot of bodies who are unrespected the regulation made by your governement so that it is so difficult to stop n to be sustainable progress. Here by acting is more important, it is our challenge particularly for young people as the agent of change
Posted 29-01-2013 07:30