What do fish farms and pickleweed have in common with Abu Dhabi's award-winning airline? Etihad Airways said it will collaborate with Masdar on an <a href="http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091010/BUSINESS/710109929/1050/rss">innovative study</a> to assess the viability of using halophytes, or saltwater plants, to produce biofuels in the UAE.<br/><br/> Participating in an energy conference earlier this month were Linden Coppell, the manager for environmental affairs at Etihad, and Sgouris Sgourdis, an assistant professor at the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology. As described by Mr Sgourdis, the project, which is still in its assessment phase, could look as follows: Masdar would built saltwater canals somewhere in Abu Dhabi, which would be used to create fish and shrimp farms. The effluent from the aquaculture would be used as nutrients for mangroves as well as salicornia (also called pickleweed), a saltwater plant whose oily seeds can be used to make fuel. Ms Coppell said that Etihad would participate on the project as part of a wider alliance with Masdar that could include carbon offsetting and improving the company's waste management practices. If this biofuels plan passes the assessment stage, one can expect Etihad to test the fuels at some later date.