ABU DHABI // A leading chef has praised Abu Dhabi for its sustainability efforts after he visited the Eastern Mangroves.
George Calombaris, a judge on the TV show MasterChef Australia, took to the waters off Abu Dhabi island to discover more about the ecosystem.
“I was here two years ago visiting Abu Dhabi fish market and was amazed at the variety of species,” said Calombaris.
"Having found out more about the importance of the mangroves as an eco-water filter and seeing the effort to preserve them, I now understand how those species can thrive. They are doing a really good job here."
He was also impressed with moves to turn the Eastern Mangroves into an environmentally sensitive tourism destination at the heart of the city.
Calombaris took to the channels running through the mangroves with Ian Walker, skipper of Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, and Ghassan Al Hashemi, a local guide who runs daily Eastern Mangroves kayaking trips.
“Ghassan’s running commentary, pointing out the rich biodiversity of marine and bird life, brought the natural habitat to life,” Calombaris said.
Mr Walker was equally impressed with the number of people paddle-boarding and kayaking at the Eastern Mangroves.
Calombaris was in town for the annual Gourmet Abu Dhabi culinary festival, which ended on Wednesday.
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