![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZU42CO6UCTHU3B64DR72I5JNCE.jpg?smart=true&auth=dd11973cc29c6512f2a2b8781e9b28fe7854ef6e25a0da5d21ca6fdc3aacda77&width=400&height=225)
The processing platform, where the oysters are separated based on size and cleaned before packaging. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RPLHL4W3TZZ2JPGDNGG5JFNRNU.jpg?smart=true&auth=2a1e207b1195c34304790eb04867645c18cd0c7a970009ba6dad02e0815433e4&width=400&height=225)
Oysters are typically farmed close to shore but these oysters are farmed off shore to take advantage of the warmer climate. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/L5ZKCBGLSMJDOEIF2AWBGSJ3UE.jpg?smart=true&auth=c9085ffd0ff5bb8a288f95c3b0b9b1312949a912339a6951fb702c7ae3a51a78&width=400&height=225)
Dibba Bay Oysters farm in Fujairah, where millions of oysters are produced. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7EJ5RRLVPLJVECADU7PWL7YAJA.jpg?smart=true&auth=d8ad1c997296d3e297ca82c6caf4cd58642b1336a874b668c4f4da3c65bbfdac&width=400&height=225)
Oysters grow in a series of graduated nets, known as lanterns, metres beneath the surface of the sea. ocean farm. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MKBCE5AY53NBJ52KKXS5Y5JCU4.jpg?smart=true&auth=e232013ee28cf8422974cf92c3deb78b6c144eae12b3bd5735e07fe1ef069f7f&width=400&height=225)
Oysters grow in a series of graduated nets, known as lanterns, metres beneath the surface of the sea. ocean farm. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/22S5SCUSFOVZMAN2FTIFHCWH6E.jpg?smart=true&auth=5c7120462b81f8045bccb90c12bf4844077ef636ddfd26e3c63b5df0f58895df&width=400&height=225)
The lanterns protect the oysters while allowing the water to flow through so they can feed. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6VWDBUMJ7T3NN2VTDECBF7BSDU.jpg?smart=true&auth=19f501db1d8046661890cbea43ce94c4d622d93cc49ebb42d2cc2627cf0deb6e&width=400&height=225)
The lanterns are filled with oysters that take about eight months to grow before being harvested. Chris Whiteoak / The National
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Oysters are harvested from the aqua farm. They take about eight months to grow completely. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/L6OPNEUUO7N7YB2XMAPY2PVV4M.jpg?smart=true&auth=9fc14c5730fdfd6ab42623cb2ec96e6714ab032dff75be6d9a0db82e4d003ee8&width=400&height=225)
Workers pull lanterns full of oysters from the sea. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HAKQSUV4XADJ3EBPAXZGIQHZUU.jpg?smart=true&auth=2a96cae49aeb1e48098b57ba0c728d3869e9d01068aef6bad6f5919ea38fd99a&width=400&height=225)
Between 5,000 and 10,000 baby oysters fit in each lantern. Once fully grown, that reduces to about 400 to 500. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/63H5AQPRYPF3EY3SQ32LKMFON4.jpg?smart=true&auth=ad9217d28ab1c9763419c93773f73545912d43ff74669755860e62010574106b&width=400&height=225)
Ramie Murray, founder of Dibba Bay Oysters, is a Scottish expatriate who has lived in the UAE for more than two decades.. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LRBSVHTZH47XGBIPG3S5DKOVEY.jpg?smart=true&auth=51ec31280e0c4e75c9770cbb29c80be381efd9ef55de6f927d2555d24f1f939f&width=400&height=225)
Oysters are weighed in the weighing room back at the land processing area. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VABYV7MQILVZMC4OOZXJSBYCP4.jpg?smart=true&auth=b755e97786302b0dcc11b1fb00f78514ab4d3572915dcc236a5574a9ca1c526b&width=400&height=225)
After passing through the offshore farm and processing platform, the oysters are washed down, cleaned and individually weighed at the on-shore sorting facility before being packed and shipped for local or international export. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CSU2UALFJPVG6KHVAGS7ZBGBEY.jpg?smart=true&auth=797074e5ca71ec57dc0a425142e93218fdc618b58efc09d8ba922afdd2bd36e3&width=400&height=225)
Cleaned oysters are packaged so they can be sold. Chris Whiteoak / The National
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Cleaned, freshly harvested oysters are ready for packaging. Chris Whiteoak / The National
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Harvested oysters are cleaned before they are packaged and sold. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5N7FVLMY33DRVWVHDPU6OHCMOE.jpg?smart=true&auth=297ecf955c2c3faaa52beaf5798cb4bfd4a203e7c3fe250322dcde6e4f2217a0&width=400&height=225)
Oysters freshly pulled from the sea are taken for processing. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SGI4DSKRXG3G6J6NWHHBHGDTCM.jpg?smart=true&auth=a0050dacdd986ee6de221dc8d3826c3c7535cfa250a8e8c392d0797560059c07&width=400&height=225)
A worker separates the oysters based on their size at the land processing platform. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HMZDL25A63NXHHKXVLCH7QXJEA.jpg?smart=true&auth=87ca382a9fb5baa85d9ef52e5f3f9df3f2b71e52cfad6fdd1cafd26b11564744&width=400&height=225)
Ramie Murray, founder of Dibba Bay Oysters, buys baby oysters from the UK and France before growing them in the waters off Fujairah. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/P5FX3QTTMKEWUHHPYISWJLTJIQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=9ed3057eb6a47d1662996b8af16f9844d56dcd8a0ca8e6dd5d039661794a08d5&width=400&height=225)
Oysters pass through the land processing area where they are weighed, cleaned and packaged for sale. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZU42CO6UCTHU3B64DR72I5JNCE.jpg?smart=true&auth=dd11973cc29c6512f2a2b8781e9b28fe7854ef6e25a0da5d21ca6fdc3aacda77&width=400&height=225)
The processing platform, where the oysters are separated based on size and cleaned before packaging. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RPLHL4W3TZZ2JPGDNGG5JFNRNU.jpg?smart=true&auth=2a1e207b1195c34304790eb04867645c18cd0c7a970009ba6dad02e0815433e4&width=400&height=225)
Oysters are typically farmed close to shore but these oysters are farmed off shore to take advantage of the warmer climate. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/L5ZKCBGLSMJDOEIF2AWBGSJ3UE.jpg?smart=true&auth=c9085ffd0ff5bb8a288f95c3b0b9b1312949a912339a6951fb702c7ae3a51a78&width=400&height=225)
Dibba Bay Oysters farm in Fujairah, where millions of oysters are produced. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7EJ5RRLVPLJVECADU7PWL7YAJA.jpg?smart=true&auth=d8ad1c997296d3e297ca82c6caf4cd58642b1336a874b668c4f4da3c65bbfdac&width=400&height=225)
Oysters grow in a series of graduated nets, known as lanterns, metres beneath the surface of the sea. ocean farm. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MKBCE5AY53NBJ52KKXS5Y5JCU4.jpg?smart=true&auth=e232013ee28cf8422974cf92c3deb78b6c144eae12b3bd5735e07fe1ef069f7f&width=400&height=225)
Oysters grow in a series of graduated nets, known as lanterns, metres beneath the surface of the sea. ocean farm. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/22S5SCUSFOVZMAN2FTIFHCWH6E.jpg?smart=true&auth=5c7120462b81f8045bccb90c12bf4844077ef636ddfd26e3c63b5df0f58895df&width=400&height=225)
The lanterns protect the oysters while allowing the water to flow through so they can feed. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6VWDBUMJ7T3NN2VTDECBF7BSDU.jpg?smart=true&auth=19f501db1d8046661890cbea43ce94c4d622d93cc49ebb42d2cc2627cf0deb6e&width=400&height=225)
The lanterns are filled with oysters that take about eight months to grow before being harvested. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/D2NF5ZRMXEHIPNPPLELQBIXGOQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=b1c255ac0fc1d9b1a044385f0da9ba3f17874f4b24419ca794ea6ac430cc5f69&width=400&height=225)
Oysters are harvested from the aqua farm. They take about eight months to grow completely. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/L6OPNEUUO7N7YB2XMAPY2PVV4M.jpg?smart=true&auth=9fc14c5730fdfd6ab42623cb2ec96e6714ab032dff75be6d9a0db82e4d003ee8&width=400&height=225)
Workers pull lanterns full of oysters from the sea. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HAKQSUV4XADJ3EBPAXZGIQHZUU.jpg?smart=true&auth=2a96cae49aeb1e48098b57ba0c728d3869e9d01068aef6bad6f5919ea38fd99a&width=400&height=225)
Between 5,000 and 10,000 baby oysters fit in each lantern. Once fully grown, that reduces to about 400 to 500. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/63H5AQPRYPF3EY3SQ32LKMFON4.jpg?smart=true&auth=ad9217d28ab1c9763419c93773f73545912d43ff74669755860e62010574106b&width=400&height=225)
Ramie Murray, founder of Dibba Bay Oysters, is a Scottish expatriate who has lived in the UAE for more than two decades.. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LRBSVHTZH47XGBIPG3S5DKOVEY.jpg?smart=true&auth=51ec31280e0c4e75c9770cbb29c80be381efd9ef55de6f927d2555d24f1f939f&width=400&height=225)
Oysters are weighed in the weighing room back at the land processing area. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VABYV7MQILVZMC4OOZXJSBYCP4.jpg?smart=true&auth=b755e97786302b0dcc11b1fb00f78514ab4d3572915dcc236a5574a9ca1c526b&width=400&height=225)
After passing through the offshore farm and processing platform, the oysters are washed down, cleaned and individually weighed at the on-shore sorting facility before being packed and shipped for local or international export. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CSU2UALFJPVG6KHVAGS7ZBGBEY.jpg?smart=true&auth=797074e5ca71ec57dc0a425142e93218fdc618b58efc09d8ba922afdd2bd36e3&width=400&height=225)
Cleaned oysters are packaged so they can be sold. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/36CM27DRPLDQQCMEGL2VGYYE2I.jpg?smart=true&auth=e2e0944f8ebf58f2690f3f2d982ada89197c0318ad16b15c0c27ab8c36ad6d9f&width=400&height=225)
Cleaned, freshly harvested oysters are ready for packaging. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6ISTZQWPLCW7JRIFA6HYZEIVLA.jpg?smart=true&auth=5683bf32c8ff16a4eb9af3522767d7bf46417528acb31f15ec26b5afb48f5162&width=400&height=225)
Harvested oysters are cleaned before they are packaged and sold. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5N7FVLMY33DRVWVHDPU6OHCMOE.jpg?smart=true&auth=297ecf955c2c3faaa52beaf5798cb4bfd4a203e7c3fe250322dcde6e4f2217a0&width=400&height=225)
Oysters freshly pulled from the sea are taken for processing. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SGI4DSKRXG3G6J6NWHHBHGDTCM.jpg?smart=true&auth=a0050dacdd986ee6de221dc8d3826c3c7535cfa250a8e8c392d0797560059c07&width=400&height=225)
A worker separates the oysters based on their size at the land processing platform. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HMZDL25A63NXHHKXVLCH7QXJEA.jpg?smart=true&auth=87ca382a9fb5baa85d9ef52e5f3f9df3f2b71e52cfad6fdd1cafd26b11564744&width=400&height=225)
Ramie Murray, founder of Dibba Bay Oysters, buys baby oysters from the UK and France before growing them in the waters off Fujairah. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/P5FX3QTTMKEWUHHPYISWJLTJIQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=9ed3057eb6a47d1662996b8af16f9844d56dcd8a0ca8e6dd5d039661794a08d5&width=400&height=225)
Oysters pass through the land processing area where they are weighed, cleaned and packaged for sale. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZU42CO6UCTHU3B64DR72I5JNCE.jpg?smart=true&auth=dd11973cc29c6512f2a2b8781e9b28fe7854ef6e25a0da5d21ca6fdc3aacda77&width=400&height=225)
The processing platform, where the oysters are separated based on size and cleaned before packaging. Chris Whiteoak / The National
How a UAE oyster farm is helping the environment off the Fujairah coast
Dibba Bay Oysters secures Friend of the Sea accreditation from the World Sustainability Organisation
![Daniel Bardsley](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F4dcffed7-67d1-4c6f-b468-84a82d1ddd22.png?smart=true&auth=e4d7a6e3c76d7ec922e25339bc18538c62bc925936c2316006dc89b8a7becdc6&width=70&height=70)
Daniel Bardsley
01 November, 2022
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