UAE authorities hope production facilities at the Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Centre for Marine Research (Phase 2) will encourage research collaborations.

AquaBioTech scoops award for UAE centre

The AquaBioTech Group’s development for a marine research centre in the United Arab Emirates has landed an Aquaculture Farm Innovation Award.

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The Maltese company won the AgraME/AquaME/VetME award after it developed Recirculating Aquaculture Systems at the Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Centre for Marine Research (Phase 2) in the Arab emirate of Umm Al-Quwain, as the UAE authorities aim to exploit the aquaculture sector.

Shane Hunter, technical director of AquaBioTech Group, said: “We’re very proud to be awarded the Aquaculture Farm Innovation Award. The AgraME/AquaME/VetME Awards is a widely recognised competition attracting the most dynamic aquaculture companies globally. This award gives us the chance to showcase our achievements to the entire industry.”

Samantha Bleasby, exhibition director of award organisers Informa Exhibitions, said: “Congratulations to AquaBioTech Group and all the companies that have been selected, they play an important part in creating a stronger aquaculture industry in the Middle East.”

The awards, which are endorsed by the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Climate Change & Environment, recognise outstanding contributions to the growth and development of the agricultural, aquaculture and veterinary industry, with a focus on best practice and innovation.

Attracting aquaculture talent

The UAE authorities hope the production facilities at the Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Centre for Marine Research (Phase 2)  will allow further international research collaborations and partnerships with the private aquaculture sector and support educational institutes, while attracting aquaculture talents from the rest of the world.

The newly developed designs will also demonstrate the technological adaptation and successful development of several state-of-the-art RAS for local species in the harsh environmental conditions of the Gulf region, paving the way for future aquaculture operators.

The systems developed by the AquaBioTech Group are designed in collaboration with experts at the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, incorporating the long-term development vision of the UAE to become a centre for excellence and innovation for marine and aquaculture research and development in the Middle East.

Umm al-Quwain is the least populous of the seven sovereign emirates in the UAE, located in the north of the country.