Turning the Tide: Ecosystem-Based Management Reforms and Fish Stock Recovery in Abu Dhabi Waters

Fisheries management in Abu Dhabi has undergone significant transformation over the past two decades, shifting from an open-access system to a more regulated framework aimed at stock recovery and sustainability. This study evaluates the status of 13 commercially important fish species – accounting for 95% of total landings - using two complementary stock assessment methods: CMSY++, a Bayesian catch-based model, and the Length-Converted Catch Curve (LCCC), a length-based mortality estimation approach. Fisheries-dependent and independent data collected from 2001 to 2024 were analysed to assess trends in biomass, exploitation rates, and spawning stock biomass per recruit (SBR). CMSY++ outputs indicate that in 2005, only one out of 13 stocks were sustainable, with biomass (B) above BMSY and fishing mortality (F) below FMSY and five stocks were overexploited. By 2024, seven stocks had recovered to sustainable levels, with biomass at or above BMSY and exploitation rates below FMSY. LCCC results for 2024, further confirm these findings, with most species exhibiting SBR values above the 30% threshold, except for Lethrinus nebulosus, which remains close to overexploitation limits. The observed stock recovery coincides with effective governance and key fisheries management measures, including effort reduction, gear restrictions, and spatial protections. While most stocks are now within sustainable biological reference points, transboundary species such as Scomberomorus commerson require continued regional cooperation for effective management. These findings contribute to ongoing efforts to achieve and sustain fully sustainable fisheries in the Arabian Gulf, while aligning with international conservation frameworks, biodiversity protection goals and climate-resilient fisheries management strategies.