Under the patronage of Major General Salem Abdullah Al-Socotri, Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Fisheries, and Prof. Mohamed Khanbash, President of Hadhramout University, the Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Marine Biology at Hadhramout University signed a joint cooperation agreement this morning with the General Authority for Marine and Fisheries Research for the implementation of the Spiny Lobster Larvae Settlement Project in Hadhramout and Al-Mahrah Governorates.
The agreement was signed on behalf of the faculty by Prof. Khaled Awadh Al-Rubaki, Dean of the Faculty, and on behalf of the Authority by Eng. Sabri Mohammed Lajrab, Director General of the Authority’s Hadhramout and Al-Mahrah Branch, representing Dr. Hanaa Rashid Ahmed, Chairperson of the Authority.
The agreement aims to implement the activities outlined in the project, which is funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank.
A joint team from both institutions will undertake a series of scientific studies and research activities over the next five months. These activities include:
- Conducting surveys of benthic marine habitats.
- Implementing spiny lobster larvae settlement and monitoring activities.
- Identifying environmental indicators influencing larval settlement and survival.
- Studying the external fertility and reproductive characteristics of female spiny lobsters.
The initiative reflects the shared commitment of both institutions to advancing marine scientific research, supporting sustainable fisheries management, and contributing to the conservation and development of marine resources in Hadhramout and Al-Mahrah.
The signing ceremony was attended by Dr. Ahmed Aidha Bin Ali Al-Haj, Vice Dean for Academic Affairs, Dr. Jaafar Omar Baamar, Head of the Marine Biology Department, Dr. Ahmed Balqadi, Faculty Member, Eng. Tariq Omar Al-Siyli, Fisheries Researcher at the Authority, and Mr. Mohammed Bashadi, Secretary-General of the Faculty
