Nakheel to build reefs to help marine environment

Nakheel plans to build 500 artificial reefs off the coast of Dubai in a bid to stimulate the city's marine environment. The Dubai-based real estate developer, which recently completed a massive Dh59 billion debt restructuring, says the initiative is necessary after some of its iconic projects, including the Palm Jumeirah and The World, led to the loss of traditional fishing grounds. The artificial reefs are designed to attract and support large populations of fish and will cover the entire coastline of Dubai. Fishing will only be allowed in a small percentage of the site in order to ensure fishery resources are not over-exploited. The project, which is being built in cooperation with Dubai Municipality and the Emirates Marine Environmental Group (Emeg), will take around one year to complete. Nakheel said it will disclose the value of the project upon conclusion of a scientific study. "This project will not be a big financial burden as most of the materials are with us," said Ali Rashid Lootah, Nakheel's chairman. Marine regeneration "We thought it was important to help regenerate the environment and increase marine life now that we have more free time after our restructuring." Some of the reefs will be made from natural stones that have been excavated from the waterfront at Jebel Ali. Nakheel said some sites, such as northwest of Palm Jebel Ali, will be suitable for quasi-natural coral reefs using local "caprock" stones. Lootah said there was no pressure from the UAE's fishing community or government agencies to undertake the project, adding that Nakheel felt it was the right time to engage in some corporate social responsibility. "[The local fishing industry] is happy about the project; there was no pressure," Lootah said. "It is our own initiative; it has nothing to do with any agency. There will be no more than 20 people working on the project; we have some of our people and they [Emeg] have some of their people." Nakheel said artificial reefs are effective devices for attracting and supporting large populations of reef-associated fish, adding that they provide complex, hard surface habitat in areas where only soft bottoms occur, which is the majority of Dubai's marine and coastal environment. "There is a huge population of fish that is inaccessible [in the area]" said Keith Wilson, marine programme director at Emeg. "Through this programme we will make available a huge untapped reserve," he added. Residents of the Nakheel's Shoreline Apartments are "wanting something they are not entitled to", Nakheel's chairman said yesterday in the latest twist of an ongoing dispute over communal facilities at the Palm Jumeirah development. Nakheel plans to charge tenants up to Dh5,000 to access the building's beach clubs as the company moves to privatise the Shoreline's leisure facilities. Many residents bought their properties on the premise they would have access to communal pools, gyms and the private beach. However, Lootah says Nakheel is complying with the law. "People want something they are not entitled to; I cannot make everybody happy," Lootah said. They [the residents] should read the contract. We checked legally with the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA). We do not do anything without approval from RERA; we abide by the law and respect the law," he added. Finer print Charge for beach access Residents of the Nakheel's Shoreline Apartments are "wanting something they are not entitled to", Nakheel's chairman said yesterday in the latest twist of an ongoing dispute over communal facilities at the Palm Jumeirah development. Nakheel plans to charge tenants up to Dh5,000 to access the building's beach clubs as the company moves to privatise the Shoreline's leisure facilities. Many residents bought their properties on the premise they would have access to communal pools, gyms and the private beach. However, Lootah says Nakheel is complying with the law. "People want something they are not entitled to; I cannot make everybody happy," Lootah said. "They [the residents] should read the contract. We checked legally with the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (Rera). We do not do anything without approval from Rera; we abide by the law and respect the law."