In a new step to work towards the protection of the marine environment, the UAE University has come up with a new strategy. The University has launched a campaign to raise awareness regarding the need to protect sharks.

As sharks play a vital role in maintaining the balance of the marine ecosystem, UAEU wants the community to understand the importance of marine protection and these creatures.

The university has been relentlessly working towards supporting the government’s efforts towards protecting the environment. Sharks are considered one of the most important species in the marine ecosystem.

Dr. Mohammad Abdul Mohsen Alyafei, Associate Professor, Vice Dean, College of Food and Agriculture, Chair of Integrative Agriculture Department, UAEU, shared that sharks have been contributing to maintaining the marine ecosystem’s balance for more than 400 million years.

As a result of overfishing, the shark population has been declining. It is also on the decline due to its high demand for its fins and meat. Sharks play an important role in the marine food chain and are also essential in maintaining the marine ecosystem’s balance and increasing its productivity.

“The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment in the UAE has earlier announced a new plan to protect sharks. It has launched the ‘National Plan of Action (NPOA) for the Conservation and Management of Sharks 2018-2021’ presenting concrete steps towards promoting shark conservation and sustainability in the UAE and enhancing food biodiversity,” Dr. Alyafei told the Khaleej Times.

“A study co-conducted by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) along with its governmental and non-governmental partners, revealed that the UAE is home to more than 80 different species of sharks and rays, most of which are endangered at three different levels: critically endangered, endangered, and vulnerable,” he further added.

The varsity also hopes to start a marine research programme to maintain natural resources as a sustainable source for the future generation. It’s our responsibility to protect these species from getting extinct due to overexploitation, he mentioned.