Fujairah’s Dibba Bay Oyster Farm has received international commendation for its sustainable farming and marine protection practices.
The producer and Gault&Millau UAE partner received ‘Friend of the Sea Sustainable Aquaculture’ certification in recognition of its work to protect the UAE’s delicate aquatic ecosystems.
“Our mission as an oyster farm has always been to protect our oceans and involve sustainable practices in all aspects of our business to safeguard the integrity of aquatic life”, says Ramie Murray, the company’s founder and CEO. “It’s important to us that there is an accredited third party certifying our work. Sustainability demonstrated with a third-party certification will help consumers choose more consciously.”
Founded in 2016, Murray’s Dibba Bay is the first farm in the Middle East to grow gourmet oysters. Located on the UAE’s eastern coast, the farm currently produces more than 300,000 oysters a month and supplies some of the region’s top restaurants, as well as exporting to markets including Hong Kong, the Maldives, Seychelles, Mauritius and Oman.
As part of the World Sustainability Organisation project, farms seeking to become a Friend of the Sea institution must uphold strict sustainable policies, waste management regulations and social responsibilities on site. The traceability of packing and export operations is also examined as part of the certification process, with recognised farms required to prove their local marine habitats are protected at every stage of the production process.
At Dibba Bay, initiatives in place to ensure environmental responsibility include the retention and drying of harvested oyster shells, which are returned to the ocean within natural structures created to protect coral growth and provide new habitats for local sealife.
“Obtaining this certificate proves not only that Dibba Bay conducts a responsible farming operation according to Friend of the Sea standards, but also that the company has a broader commitment to protecting the environment,” says Paolo Bray, Founder and Director of Friend of the Sea.
Dibba Bay is the first farm in the UAE to receive Friend of the Sea certification, in recognition of the country’s Food Security goals.