VIDEO: Helping improve Dubai's ocean life with Atlantis
What’s On videos Lost Chambers Aquarium’s replenishing programme at Atlantis The Palm. See native fish released from the beach in Dubai.
More than 1,500 native fish were released into the ocean on Monday morning as part of the Marine Resource Research Centre of the Ministry of the Enviornment and Water’s (MOEW) replenishing programme. And What’s On was in the water to see the little swimmers set free.
In front of the looming Atlantis, The Palm, the event, which is the first of two releases this week, was attended by hundreds of school children from Jumeirah College, who eagerly – but carefully – lowered buckets containing the little six-month-old Subaity sea bream into the ocean.
“We’ve been working hard with the MOEW on this release programme,” said Nick Derbyshire, manager at The Lost Chambers Aquarium. “These fish were cultured in Umm Al Quwain and are part of a bigger restocking programme where we release local species into the water to help boost fish numbers in the UAE.”
“It’s very important we try to focus on preserving the local marine species of the UAE,” added Natasha Christie, director of The Lost Chambers Aquarium. “We need to celebrate the native species of the UAE and focus on responsible fishing and stock replenishment so we can help raise numbers in the wild.”
The second release takes place on Friday November 28 to coincide with Atlantis, The Palm’s UAE National Day celebrations at The Lost Chambers Aquarium, where residents and visitors can participate in the fish release of another 1,500 species including hamour, as well as take part in a host of other water-based activities.
Not to be missed is a free dive demonstration in The Ambassador Lagoon by UAE-free-diving champion Ahmed Khoori to help raise awareness of the UAE’s pearl diving past.
November 28
Atlantis, The Palm, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, Friday 9am to 5pm, (fish release takes place at 9am on Nasimi Beach), Dhs100 for adults, children under 11 are free with each full paid adult admission. Tel: (04) 4261040. Taxi: Nasimi Beach, The Palm. atlantisthepalm.com