Abu Dhabi: The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), in cooperation with the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), will study the migratory behavior and patterns of kingfish using satellite tracking technology.
It will be achieved by studying the behaviors and migration patterns of kingfish in the waters of the Arabian Gulf and identifying their biological characteristics, while also highlighting their breeding seasons in Abu Dhabi’s waters.
The kingfish is classified as a pelagic (open water) migratory fish, meaning it travels in small groups at varying depths in search of food. It was chosen for the study because of its high economic, nutritional, and cultural value, being the most caught migratory species in Abu Dhabi.
The tracking device is quickly attached to the dorsal fin of the fish to avoid exposing it to stress and to ensure the success of the process, after which it is returned to the water to complete its life cycle.
The device begins communicating with the satellite and sending data once it automatically separates from the fish after six months or according to a pre-programmed time period.
Mr. Ahmed Al Hashemi, Executive Director of the Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity Sector at EAD, stated that, “the project to track kingfish by satellite is considered the first of its kind in the world, as there are other similar projects that have been implemented to track sharks, tuna, and yellowtail kingfish and some types of large fish in Norway, Australia, and the United States.”
“The kingfish’s smooth body and relatively small size compared to sharks and tuna increases the difficulty of attaching the tracker, and fishing operations for scientific research purposes differ greatly from the traditional fishing practices,” Mr. Al Hashemi added.