The UAE could one day be farming the prized but endangered Atlantic bluefin tuna, scientists said yesterday.
The fish is usually consumed raw in sushi and sashimi dishes and is so valued for its tender meat that only luxury seafood restaurants can afford to serve it. Prices can reach hundreds of thousands of US dollars for a single fish, which are often the size of a man.
In January last year, a 200kg specimen of a related species, the Pacific bluefin tuna, reached a record US$220,000 (Dh810,000) at auction in Japan.
Because of the huge profits to be made, bluefin fisheries in the wild have been declining steadily; populations in the Mediterranean and the eastern Atlantic could become extinct within three years, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature.
Yesterday, the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi (EAD) revealed it will be importing technology developed by Japan's Kinki University which has been producing bluefin tuna commercially since 2004 and is the only place in the world where the endangered fish is farmed through its full developmental cycle.
"No one in the world has managed to farm these fish besides the scientists at Kinki University," said Majid al Mansouri, the secretary general of the EAD. "I went there myself to see how it is done."
The tuna are raised in captivity, but he said they still can reach large sizes. "I thought they were dolphins," he said.
Earlier this week, the Japanese researchers, lead by Hiroshige Seko, the vice president of the university, presented a 60kg specimen to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.
It is not yet know when and where production will start.
"I think it will take some time," said Dr Thabit Zahran al Abdessalaam, the EAD's director of biodiversity sector. He said more details would emerge with the completion of a feasibility study.
The study, which could start as early as autumn, is expected to calculate the expense of the project and also help identify a suitable site for a pilot facility to be built. Sir Bani Yas Island and Delma Island are two possible locations, Dr al Abdessalaam said.
The Abu Dhabi Government will pay for the project. The Japanese team will need to adjust their technique to the UAE's climate.
Bluefin tuna are notoriously difficult to raise in captivity, the scientists said. Some of the problems stem from their behaviour, such as cannibalism in the early stages of development. They also need to swim continuously, even when asleep, to be able to breathe. One of the most difficult aspects of farming the species has been to get them to produce a steady supply of eggs.
Mr Seko said two concerns for farming the fish in Abu Dhabi were the high temperature of the water here, as well as its high salinity.
"I feel confident that we can overcome these challenges," he said.
One possible solution would be to import juvenile fish hatched in Japan. This, said Yoshifumi Sawada, a professor at the Fisheries Laboratory at the university, would require finding a way to transport the fish to the UAE safely.
Dr al Abdessalaam said another option was to raise the fish indoors under strictly monitored conditions, currently the practice in Japan.
The technique, called "closed re-circulation system", is more environmentally friendly because it helps contain pollution. Fish farms usually release large amounts of nutrients and chemicals, such as antibiotics, into the environment.
He said the plan to raise bluefin tuna was part of an overall focus on aquaculture as a way of diversifying Abu Dhabi's economy.
Fish farming, said Dr al Abdessalaam, was also a way to reduce pressure on the country's dwindling wild fish resources.
The idea of farming bluefin tuna here has detractors. Some say its dependence on small fish, such as sardines, for food depletes populations of these species, used as a cheap source of protein by people in developing countries.
Also, sushi connoisseurs say farmed bluefin is not as tasty as the wild-caught variety.
Dr al Abdessalaam said he disagrees. "I was in Japan in October and I tasted it," he said. "It tasted good."
The Japanese scientists brought forward what they say are two other advantages to their product: farmed bluefin is half the price of wild-caught bluefin and it contains less mercury, a pollutant found in high concentrations in predatory fish.
@Email:vtodorova@thenational.ae
BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Company%20profile
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AS IT STANDS IN POOL A
1. Japan - Played 3, Won 3, Points 14
2. Ireland - Played 3, Won 2, Lost 1, Points 11
3. Scotland - Played 2, Won 1, Lost 1, Points 5
Remaining fixtures
Scotland v Russia – Wednesday, 11.15am
Ireland v Samoa – Saturday, 2.45pm
Japan v Scotland – Sunday, 2.45pm
MATCH INFO
Burnley 0
Man City 3
Raheem Sterling 35', 49'
Ferran Torres 65'
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
ASSASSIN'S%20CREED%20MIRAGE
%3Cp%3E%0DDeveloper%3A%20Ubisoft%20Bordeaux%0D%3Cbr%3EPublisher%3A%20Ubisoft%0D%3Cbr%3EConsoles%3A%20PlayStation%204%26amp%3B5%2C%20PC%20and%20Xbox%20Series%20S%26amp%3BX%0D%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
ETFs explained
Exhchange traded funds are bought and sold like shares, but operate as index-tracking funds, passively following their chosen indices, such as the S&P 500, FTSE 100 and the FTSE All World, plus a vast range of smaller exchanges and commodities, such as gold, silver, copper sugar, coffee and oil.
ETFs have zero upfront fees and annual charges as low as 0.07 per cent a year, which means you get to keep more of your returns, as actively managed funds can charge as much as 1.5 per cent a year.
There are thousands to choose from, with the five biggest providers BlackRock’s iShares range, Vanguard, State Street Global Advisors SPDR ETFs, Deutsche Bank AWM X-trackers and Invesco PowerShares.
RESULT
Argentina 0 Croatia 3
Croatia: Rebic (53'), Modric (80'), Rakitic (90' 1)
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
Confirmed%20bouts%20(more%20to%20be%20added)
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The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
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Racecard
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Tonight's Chat on The National
Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.
Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster who has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others.
Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
Miguel Cotto world titles:
WBO Light Welterweight champion - 2004-06
WBA Welterweight champion – 2006-08
WBO Welterweight champion – Feb 2009-Nov 2009
WBA Light Middleweight champion – 2010-12
WBC Middleweight champion – 2014-15
WBO Light Middleweight champion – Aug 2017-Dec 2017
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km
Price: From Dh796,600
On sale: now
No more lice
Defining head lice
Pediculus humanus capitis are tiny wingless insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. The adult head louse is up to 3mm long, has six legs, and is tan to greyish-white in colour. The female lives up to four weeks and, once mature, can lay up to 10 eggs per day. These tiny nits firmly attach to the base of the hair shaft, get incubated by body heat and hatch in eight days or so.
Identifying lice
Lice can be identified by itching or a tickling sensation of something moving within the hair. One can confirm that a person has lice by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits, nymphs or lice. Head lice are most frequently located behind the ears and near the neckline.
Treating lice at home
Head lice must be treated as soon as they are spotted. Start by checking everyone in the family for them, then follow these steps. Remove and wash all clothing and bedding with hot water. Apply medicine according to the label instructions. If some live lice are still found eight to 12 hours after treatment, but are moving more slowly than before, do not re-treat. Comb dead and remaining live lice out of the hair using a fine-toothed comb.
After the initial treatment, check for, comb and remove nits and lice from hair every two to three days. Soak combs and brushes in hot water for 10 minutes.Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay.
Courtesy Dr Vishal Rajmal Mehta, specialist paediatrics, RAK Hospital
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMaly%20Tech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Mo%20Ibrahim%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%20International%20Financial%20Centre%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%241.6%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2015%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPre-seed%2C%20planning%20first%20seed%20round%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20GCC-based%20angel%20investors%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champioons League semi-final, first leg:
Liverpool 5
Salah (35', 45 1'), Mane (56'), Firmino (61', 68')
Roma 2
Dzeko (81'), Perotti (85' pen)
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford