Gulf Aquaculture is the trade name for Balghailam Fish Farm LLC. The hatchery facility was established in January 2023 on Balghailam Island in Abu Dhabi. It operates under trade license number CN-4743056. It is part of the Emirates Consortium LLC (“EmCon”), a UAE Holding Company. Gulf Aquaculture specializes in the production of seawater fish, including the orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides) and red snapper (Lutjanus malabaricus), supported by a diverse team of 10 international experts.

In 2024, following changes in the production team, Gulf Aquaculture achieved a significant milestone by successfully producing orange-spotted grouper larvae and fry for sale to commercial fish farms throughout the Middle East. Currently, the hatchery has a production capacity of two million larvae per year. In August 2024, Gulf Aquaculture began importing small red snapper larvae from Malaysia and successfully on-grow to fry sizes.

The hatchery facility is equipped with modern infrastructure, including a dedicated water quality and microbiology laboratory capable of conducting a range of tests. Gulf Aquaculture is committed to biosecurity, adhering to stringent protocols to ensure the health and safety of its farmed organisms. The seawater intake system draws from boreholes, providing high-quality sea water while avoiding the need for chemical treatments.

Gulf Aquaculture’s future plans include expanding its facilities in Phase 2 to increase production capacity and enhancing its sustainable practices, positioning it as a leading hatchery in the aquaculture industry in the Gulf region.