Seafood has always been an important part of the Middle East's gastronomy and many of the Gulf's rich and powerful cities started life as small fishing towns.With such cultural importance, it is perhaps unsurprising that the region's seafood market is boomingThis is a market driven by consumers. According to a survey conducted by the Emirates Wildlife Society and the World Wildlife Fund (EWS-WWF), 66% of the UAE population eat fish at least once a week. This strong consumer demand for seafood combined with the rapid ongoing expansion of the region's food service industry is good news for seafood suppliers operating in the Middle East."The UAE has been a fishing hub for centuries, and fish has been an important food item and trade commodity with the local per capita consumption recording more than 50 kilograms per year" - one of the highest in the world, according to Asmak International Fish Farming Company. The world average is reported to be about 16.5 kilograms.                                                              
Take a look at the seafood imports in to the UAE. According to the report the seafood demand and imports have increased tremendously ove the past few years. UAE imports of seafood products were projected to reach $382 million in 2008, according to a recent study conducted by the Centre for Marketing Information and Advisory Services for Fishery Products in the Arab Region (UAE). The figures reflect a growth trend that is at par with the current unprecedented growth of the global seafood industry. Dubai's seafood imports reached 55,050 tonnes at a value of Dh547 million, while exports reached 10,489 tonnes with a total market value of Dh187 million in 2006, reports say. Meanwhile, global export figures have seen a seven per cent increase to reach $92 billion in 2007.