Tens of thousands of fingerlings released into RAK sea

RAS AL KHAIMAH // Some 33,000 fingerlings were released by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment into the seas off Ras Al Khaimah on Tuesday.

A total of 210,000 young fish have been released so far this year.

The fingerlings were released in Al Khor with the cooperation of RAK Public Works and Services Department, RAK Maritime Club and the local fishermen association, reported Al-Ittihad, Arabic-language sister paper of The National.

The ministry also announced its intention to establish 14 new marine research and development laboratories and increase fingerling production to 15 million per year.

“The release of the fingerlings will greatly contribute to increasing fish populations in Al Khor which is currently undergoing the biggest clean-up and shipwreck removal operation,” said Ahmed Al Hamadi, director general of the RAK Public Works and Services Department.

This is the third release of fingerlings across the country this year, said Dr Abdul Ahmed, senior expert at the ministry.

The fingerlings are reared by the Sheikh Khalifa Centre for Marine Research in Umm Al Quwain with the aim of preserving fish populations, he said.