September 6, 2022 — 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.