ABU DHABI // Food experts looking to reduce the strain on the Gulf's overfished waters believe they may have found the perfect catch for fish farms: a little-known species called the cobia.
Sometimes called the tropical salmon, the white fish grows three times faster than salmon and is lower in fat.
Cobia are mostly reared in offshore cages in other parts of the world, but Dr Jean-Yves Mevel, professor of aquaculture at UAE University's food and agriculture department in Al Ain, proposes setting up a large aquaculture system in the desert.
"We need a big aquaculture production system in Al Ain for fish," said Dr Mevel.
"We have to control what we do, and cages pollute the sea so we must produce inland."
Cobia can reach a weight of six to 10 kilograms in the first year of growth, compared with up to 2kg for salmon, 500 grams for catfish and just 250 grams for trout.
Dr Thabit Zahran Al Abdessalaam, the director of marine biodiversity at the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi, believes it is a promising species for aquaculture in the UAE.
"It is also high in omega-3 fatty acids, compared to cod or halibut; its texture is good; and it can be good for filleting because it's large," he said.
Cobia is cheaper to raise than salmon and contains 4.5g of fat per 100g against salmon's 5.5g. Further, cobia is not prone to disease, spawns in half the time of other species and behaves very well in captivity.
"I think it will flourish," Dr Al Abdessalaam said.
Cobia do live in the Gulf, but as they do not school they can be hard to catch.
"In Abu Dhabi we catch only between 30 and 70 tonnes a year, which is not a lot," Dr Al Abdessalaam said.
Dr Mevel foresees huge demand for cobia, which he says would be ideal for aquaculture in the UAE given the lack of freshwater. "The only technical food production that doesn't use freshwater is marine food," he explained.
He said aquaculture systems were best operated in big empty spaces away from the coastal areas. "The UAE has tremendous potential in aquaculture because it has a lot of land," he said.
Most of the world's cobia production - more than 80 per cent in 2004 - is in Taiwan and China, although it is also farmed elsewhere in Asia and in Panama, Mexico and the United States.
Europe too is grasping the potential of cobia. Last year, Dr Mevel said, a French company requested 3,000 tonnes of the fish a year, "but no one can furnish it because there is not enough production".
Companies are being encouraged to get into cobia farming to help the world meet the growing demand for food created by population growth.
"The population versus food production is going straight through the wall," Dr Mevel said.
cmalek@thenational.ae
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 PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
French Touch
Carla Bruni
(Verve)
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Cultural fiesta
What: The Al Burda Festival
When: November 14 (from 10am)
Where: Warehouse421, Abu Dhabi
The Al Burda Festival is a celebration of Islamic art and culture, featuring talks, performances and exhibitions. Organised by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, this one-day event opens with a session on the future of Islamic art. With this in mind, it is followed by a number of workshops and “masterclass” sessions in everything from calligraphy and typography to geometry and the origins of Islamic design. There will also be discussions on subjects including ‘Who is the Audience for Islamic Art?’ and ‘New Markets for Islamic Design.’ A live performance from Kuwaiti guitarist Yousif Yaseen should be one of the highlights of the day.
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium (Malacca, Malayisa)
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD
* Second leg in Australia scheduled for October 10
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
- Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
- Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
- Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
Monster
Directed by: Anthony Mandler
Starring: Kelvin Harrison Jr., John David Washington
3/5
Monster Hunter: World
Capcom
PlayStation 4, Xbox One
What drives subscription retailing?
Once the domain of newspaper home deliveries, subscription model retailing has combined with e-commerce to permeate myriad products and services.
The concept has grown tremendously around the world and is forecast to thrive further, according to UnivDatos Market Insights’ report on recent and predicted trends in the sector.
The global subscription e-commerce market was valued at $13.2 billion (Dh48.5bn) in 2018. It is forecast to touch $478.2bn in 2025, and include the entertainment, fitness, food, cosmetics, baby care and fashion sectors.
The report says subscription-based services currently constitute “a small trend within e-commerce”. The US hosts almost 70 per cent of recurring plan firms, including leaders Dollar Shave Club, Hello Fresh and Netflix. Walmart and Sephora are among longer established retailers entering the space.
UnivDatos cites younger and affluent urbanites as prime subscription targets, with women currently the largest share of end-users.
That’s expected to remain unchanged until 2025, when women will represent a $246.6bn market share, owing to increasing numbers of start-ups targeting women.
Personal care and beauty occupy the largest chunk of the worldwide subscription e-commerce market, with changing lifestyles, work schedules, customisation and convenience among the chief future drivers.
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies direct from Dubai to Rio de Janeiro from Dh7,000 return including taxes. Avianca fliles from Rio to Cusco via Lima from $399 (Dhxx) return including taxes.
The trip
From US$1,830 per deluxe cabin, twin share, for the one-night Spirit of the Water itinerary and US$4,630 per deluxe cabin for the Peruvian Highlands itinerary, inclusive of meals, and beverages. Surcharges apply for some excursions.
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.