Issue 88 - September 2022

First Oyster Farm Established in the Middle East Receives Friend of the Sea Recognition for Sustainable Practices

Dibba Bay Oyster Farm is a unique project producing sustainably farmed gourmet oysters in the pristine waters of Northern Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates while supporting marine conservation efforts.

Oysters are traditionally found in the cooler waters of Europe, North America, or East China, the world’s biggest producers of the highly appreciated shellfish. However, since its creation in 2016, the Dibbay Bay oyster farm started changing perceptions becoming the first aquaculture project of its kind in the United Arab Emirates and the region. On July 5th, the company accomplished another milestone by receiving the Friend of the Sea Sustainable Aquaculture certification.

Dibba Bay is the first farm in the Middle East to grow gourmet oysters. Located on the East Coast of the UAE in Dibba, the company produces over 300.000 oysters a month thanks to the warm, clean, and nutrient-rich currents that bathe the coast of Fujairah.

The company, created by CEO Ramie Murray, accomplished the challenge of introducing the Pacific cupped oysters, originally from Japan, into Emirati waters. Dibba Bay buys spats from hatcheries around the world, seeds them in an oyster nursery, and places them in lanterns before lowering them into the water. The oysters grow without any feed or chemical substances, relying on the natural environment rich in phytoplankton.

Early on, the company committed to developing a business model based on respect for the environment. This has earned Dibba Bay the Friend of the Sea certification, recognizing that its aquaculture facilities meet strict sustainable policies, waste management regulations, and social responsibilities.

The certification also covers the traceability of Dibba Bay’s packing and export operations, as 50 % of the company’s production is exported to Hong Kong, the Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Oman, and other destinations.

“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. We are proud to be acknowledged by Friend of the Sea for our sustainable farming practices. 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,” said Ramie Murray, Founder and CEO of Dibba Bay oysters.

Friend of the Sea’s Sustainable Aquaculture Certification criteria includes no impact on critical habitat, compliance with water quality parameters, no use of harmful antifouling or growth hormones, compliance with water quality management, social accountability, and continuous improvement of waste and energy management.

Dibba Bay Oysters farm is also involved in supporting conservation efforts, such as a project to recreate coral reef ecosystems with oyster shells to provide a new habitat for marine species.

“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,” said Paolo Bray, Founder and Director of Friend of the Sea.

About Friend of the Sea

Friend of the Sea, a World Sustainability Organization project, awards sustainable practices in Fisheries, Aquaculture, Fishmeal, and Omega-3 Fish Oil. In addition, the organization promotes projects related to restaurants, sustainable shipping, whale and dolphin-watching, aquaria, ornamental fish, UV creams, and others. It is the only sustainable fisheries and aquaculture certification program recognized and supervised globally by European National Accreditation Agencies.

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Issue 88 - September 2022

SEVENSEAS Travel Magazine – September 2022 – Issue 88

Featured Destination

A New Home for Norway’s Famous Viking Ships

The Viking Ship Museum on the Bygdøy peninsula has been one of Oslo’s most visited attractions right from the very beginning in 1926. The present location of the ships doesn’t provide good enough conditions, but the new building will be able to secure the museum’s unique artefacts for future generations and to display the Viking ships and other Viking Age collections. Read more…

Feature Destination: Brim Explorer, Eco-Friendly Boat Cruises & Tours

Historic Fortress Cruise with Legacy of the Fjords

Legacy of the Fjords lets you explore the Oslo Fjord in a comfortable and environmentally friendly way. This fjord cruise aboard an electric catamaran takes you past idyllic coastal landscapes and picturesque ports along the Oslo fjord on the way to Oscarsborg. You will get to see Oslo from a new perspective when you sail from Langkaia and out towards the Fjord. Read more…

SEVENSEAS Beach CleanUp for August 2022

In August 2022 CleanUp, we picked up over 80 kilogram of plastic, pieces of glasses, tractor tyre, and fishing nets from the beach in Krabi, Long Beach or Pan Beach. Of course, we would not be able to do it without your support. You can make a tax-deductible donation here to keep our publications and Thailand Cleanup Project afloat.

You can either make a direct financial contribution to SEVENSEAS Media through The Ocean Foundation website or connect us with potential donors by sending an email to Giacomo Abrusci, our Editor-in-Chief.

What’s In Our Newsroom

IPNLF, Seafood Souq, & Omani Fishers Demonstrate a New Global Source of Sashimi-Grade Yellowfin Tuna

The International Pole and Line Foundation (IPNLF) and its member Seafood Souq joined forces to conduct a pilot project using IPNLF’s Fisheries Improvement Toolkit. Read more…

First Oyster Farm Established in the Middle East Receives Friend of the Sea Recognition for Sustainable Practices

The Great Arctic Swim from Canada to Greenland Test Limits of Human Endurance, Swim Re-Routed by Deadly Ice Maze

a man rolling a canoe in the arctic oeean

In a victory for critically endangered North Atlantic right whales, the U.S. 1st Circuit Court of Appeals has reinstated a seasonal prohibition on lobster fishing with vertical lines in federal waters off the coast of Maine. Read more…

Travel Tips: How To Be A Responsible Tourist

We passionately believe tourism can play a huge part in positively impacting our city. By nurturing our culture, respecting our heritage, recounting our history we in-turn can support communities, sustain jobs, boost local supply chains, improve infrastructure, and renovate buildings. Read more…

Study Reveals What Dive Tourists Are Demanding From Business

The Reef-World Foundation released a new report summarising the results from an online survey conducted from April to June 2022, which received over 2,400 responses from various demographics. The study reveals new travel trends and how important sustainability is regarded in this new era of tourism as the industry recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more…

SAWFISH NEWS: Meet the U.S. Sawfish Research and Conservation Team

The goal of the Endangered Species Act is to protect and recover listed species until the point they no longer need the protections afforded by the Act. After the smalltooth sawfish was listed as an Endangered species in 2003, NOAA Fisheries convened the Smalltooth Sawfish Recovery Team to develop a plan to recover the U.S. population. Read more…

Over 1000 Ton of Mismanaged Plastics Removed from Polluted Coastlines

tropical Island fishing village - view from a hill

Through a certified plastic credit system, the TONTOTON team was able to remove over 1000 tons of mismanaged plastic wastes from polluted shorelines of Sihanoukville, Cambodia, since it started its operations in October 2021. Read more…

Aquarium Partners with the Community to Name Otter Pups

It’s time to name the pups that make up the fantastic female trio at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher (NCAFF)—the newest members of the Asian small-clawed otter family. Read more…

Octa-Glove: Underwater Glove Puts Octopus’ Abilities in The Hand of Humans

an illustratsion of the comparison of how octopus' suckers and octo-glove work.

A team of researchers led by Virginia Tech Assistant Professor Michael Bartlett has developed an octopus-inspired glove capable of securely gripping objects underwater. Their research was selected for the July 13 cover of Science Advances. Read more…

The Global Fund for Coral Reefs Investment Fund Announces First Closing and Anchor Investment by Green Climate Fund

Near the island of Aragusuku there is a lone reef the locals call the palace of the dragon king.

Pegasus Capital Advisors is pleased to announce the initial commitment of up to $125 million from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and $5 million from Builder’s Vision for its Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR) Investment Fund. Read more…

Greenpeace East Asia Report Uncovers Suspected Human Rights Abuse and Environmental Destruction in Company’s Supply Chain

Major US seafood brand Bumble Bee is suspected of having environmentally harmful illegal fishing and human rights abuse in its supply chain, according to a new investigative report by Greenpeace East Asia. Read more…

Bombshell Court Victory: Chinook Harvest Harms Southern Resident Killer Whales and Wild Chinook Recovery

A bombshell ruling from Seattle’s federal Court landed Monday evening calling out the federal government for failing to protect endangered Southern Resident killer whales (SRKWs) and wild Chinook by approving unsustainable Chinook harvest at levels. Read more…

Key Countries Oppose Deep Sea Mining As Regulations Advance to Open The Industry

As delegates in Kingston, Jamaica, wrap up three intensive weeks of negotiations at the International Seabed Authority (ISA) for rules that could launch the deep sea mining industry by summer 2023, a growing chorus of countries is calling for caution. Read more…

The FREE Weekly Conservation Post and Jobs List

Signing up for the free Weekly Newsletter & Jobs List will get you a round-up of upcoming events, webinars, meetings, reports, funding opportunities, photos of the week, and recent postings to the jobs list.

To sign up for our free subscription, please Click Here or email us Here.

Since 2004, SEVENSEAS Media has fostered an informal and non-partisan platform to promote understanding of key issues and challenges while building partnerships across an increasingly diverse group of marine conservation professionals and students.

Our mission is to promote communication and build partnerships across the global marine community and to identify and address gaps in the community’s work. SEVENSEAS Media achieves this through multimedia promotion and partnerships. The community consists of a diverse and growing group of participants, including non-governmental organizations, government agencies, foundations, bilateral and multilateral agencies, fellowship programs, independent consultants, and academia/students.

If you are interested in contributing or getting involved, email us Here.

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Feature Destination

Feature Destination: A New Home for Norway’s Famous Viking Ships

The new Museum of the Viking Age opens in 2026.

Norway’s new global attraction: In 2026 a new Museum of the Viking Age will open on the Bygdøy peninsula in Oslo. It will be built as an extension of the present Viking Ship Museum.

The new Museum of the Viking Age will be three times the size of the current museum and will provide a more complete picture of the Viking Age in its entirety, with the three magnificent ships still as the main attraction.

In addition to tripling the size of the exhibition areas, the new museum complex will include a restaurant, a lecture hall, a museum shop, a museum park, a dedicated area for visiting students, laboratories that are open to the public and a research centre. The museum is part of the University of Oslo (UiO).

New name and logo

The Museum of the Viking Age has been chosen as a new name because the museum will provide a complementary picture of many aspects of society that characterized the Viking Age. Based on the world’s foremost Viking Age collection, the public will gain insight into everything from daily life to major societal changes that characterized this period, says museum director Håkon Glørstad.

The main attraction at the new Museum of the Viking Age will still be the world’s three best-preserved Viking ships. They symbolize many important aspects and characteristics of the Viking Age, and the museum’s new logo therefore shows three stylized Viking ships.

The Norwegian name is Vikingtidsmuseet.

The museum will be closed to the public for a certain period of time in the construction period. It has not yet been clarified when and for how long the museum will be closed.

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Feature Destination

Feature Destination: Brim Explorer, Eco-Friendly Boat Cruises & Tours

Opening september 2022: Eco-friendly boat cruises and tours in the Oslo Fjord

Brim Explorer resumes their boat tours in the Oslo Fjord in September 2022.

MS Bris is an electric boat that offers tours on the Oslo fjord. Thanks to Brim Explorer’s environmentally friendly motor, you can experience the fjord in almost complete silence and without breathing in exhaust fumes.

The boat has a large sun deck where you can enjoy the maritime breeze and a salon with big windows that let you take in the view no matter the weather. There is also a café on board that serves local specialities.

Brim Explorer offers five different tours:
– Oslo Dinner Cruise: Brim x Einer
– Morning Yoga Cruise
– Brunch & Bubbles
– Silent Oslo Fjord Cruise
– Electric After Work

The tours are led by experienced guides. Reservation recommended.
You can find the departure time for the tours in our sightseeing calendar and on Brim Explorer’s website.