How Abu Dhabi is reviving traditional pearl industry
Project aims to harvest high-quality pearls and enable jewellery design
Ahead of 51st National Day, Abu Dhabi has partnered with an ongoing project to encourage sustainable farming of high-quality pearls and revive the traditional pearl industry.
The Abu Dhabi Pearls project is being spearheaded by the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) in partnership with the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). In 2019, EAD launched the sustainable aquaculture policy for Abu Dhabi.
The Abu Dhabi Pearls Project was established in 2007, and set an ambitious goal of cultivating approximately 80,000 oysters, and producing approximately 20,000 high-quality and sustainable pearls annually.
Since its establishment, the project has helped to revive the sector’s heritage and preserve local oysters and pearls through participation in local and international events. Joint projects with educational institutions were also launched, along with a technical component to create jewellery designs using cultured pearls.
“This comprehensive partnership with the FAO contributes to the promotion of the Abu Dhabi Pearls project,” said Ahmad Al Hashemi, EAD’s executive director of terrestrial and marine biodiversity.
Source of income
“The pearl oyster project designed and implemented by EAD does not only provide a source of income for young Emirati entrepreneurs, but it also contributes to conserve biodiversity and protect the ecosystem.”
Within the framework of the existing cooperation between FAO and EAD, the two parties seek to shed light on pearl farming techniques while promoting them as a key model for sustainable aquaculture.
The partnership includes knowledge sharing, the provision of technical support, and organisation of technical aquaculture workshops. The Agency and FAO are also working closely to highlight EAD’s efforts in the field of pearl farming.
Lionel Dabbadie, senior aquaculture and fishery officer at the FAO Office in Abu Dhabi, said: “By partnering with EAD, FAO looks forward to develop sustainable aquaculture and contribute to achieve the UAE goal of becoming a world-leading hub in innovation-driven food security by 2051.”