Sir Bu Nair Island is a protected marine area. Courtesy: Shurooq
Sir Bu Nair Island is a protected marine area. Courtesy: Shurooq
Sir Bu Nair Island is a protected marine area. Courtesy: Shurooq
Sir Bu Nair Island is a protected marine area. Courtesy: Shurooq

UAE intercepts fishing boats illegally operating close to protected island


  • English
  • Arabic

UAE authorities have intercepted several fishing boats that illegally entered the country's territorial waters.

The Critical Infrastructure and Coastal Protection Authority on Monday identified eight vessels operating northwest of Sir Bu Nair Island.

Three pursuit and support boats were deployed but the fishing vessels did not obey orders to halt so "rules of engagement" were applied, Wam reported.

No further details about the incident were revealed.

Sir Bu Nair sits about 112 kilometres off the Sharjah coast and belongs to the emirate. It is a crucial nesting area for turtles.

Once an important camp for pearl divers, Sharjah in 2000 designated the tear-drop shaped island as a protected marine area.

Sir Bu Nair is also on the UAE's list of "wetlands of international importance" under the globally recognised Ramsar Convention.

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi

Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe

For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.

Golden Dallah

For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.

Al Mrzab Restaurant

For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.

Al Derwaza

For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup. 

The past winners

2009 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)

2010 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)

2011 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)

2012 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus)

2013 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)

2014 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)

2015 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)

2016 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)

2017 - Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)

Hydrogen: Market potential

Hydrogen has an estimated $11 trillion market potential, according to Bank of America Securities and is expected to generate $2.5tn in direct revenues and $11tn of indirect infrastructure by 2050 as its production increases six-fold.

"We believe we are reaching the point of harnessing the element that comprises 90 per cent of the universe, effectively and economically,” the bank said in a recent report.

Falling costs of renewable energy and electrolysers used in green hydrogen production is one of the main catalysts for the increasingly bullish sentiment over the element.

The cost of electrolysers used in green hydrogen production has halved over the last five years and will fall to 60 to 90 per cent by the end of the decade, acceding to Haim Israel, equity strategist at Merrill Lynch. A global focus on decarbonisation and sustainability is also a big driver in its development.