246
WORLD ATLAS OF CORAL REEFS
are largely explained by changes in environmental
conditions, including increased turbidity and the loss of
deeper water species. South of Massawa. reefs support significant growths of Sargassum and other macroalgae during
the winter, a pattern similar to the coastal communities of
southern Arabia. Some of the smaller islands in the
southern Red Sea are of regional importance for seabird
colonies, and there are important dugong populations in the
surrounding waters. Bleaching during the 1998 El Nifio
event was observed in Eritrea, although mortality was restricted to some shallow water colonies. Such incidents may
well have been more widespread in the region, although in
Yemen many corals had m fact died in localized bleaching
events during a similar warming event in 1995.
Eritrea
The reefs of Eritrea are extensive and suffered little
human impact before the 1990s. Since then there have
been small increases in both the coastal population and
fisheries. Commercial trawlers, including licensed vessels
operating from Saudi Arabia, fish mostly in deeper water
away from the reefs, although there are thought to be
some reef-associated species in their catch, and there is
concern that this might indicate they are straying into reef
areas. Artisanal fisheries target a broad range of species,
including finfish, molluscs, sea cucumbers and pearl
oysters. There is also a commercial fishery for the aquarium
trade, and around 100 000 fish were exported between 1995
and 1997. The most important and diverse reefs, around the
ofTshore islands including the Dahlak Archipelago, remain
in relatively good condition despite the lack of legal
protection. By contrast some of the coastal reefs have
Eritrea
General Data
Population (thousands!
A 136
GDP (million US$1
1
^31
Land area (km^l
120 641
Marine area (thousand km^j
39
Per capita fish consumption (kg/year)
<1
Status and Threats
Reefs at risk (%l
66
Recorded coral diseases
Biodiversity
Reef area (km^j
3 260
Coral diversity
na / 333
Mangrove area (km^l
581
No. of mangrove species
3
No. of seagrass species
na
Yemen
General Data
Population Ithousandsl
17 479
GDP (million US$1
15 387
Land area (km^l
733 130
Marine area (thousand km^j
547
Per capita fish consumption (kg/yearl
7
Status and Threats
Reefs at risk (%1
73
Recorded coral diseases
Biodiversity
Reef area (km^j
700
Coral diversity*
na / 344
Mangrove area (km^j
81
No. of mangrove species
2
No. of seagrass species
8
• The higher coral diversity figure is lil
includes the Gulf of Aden and Socotra
'^^s^am^t
suffered from development and land reclamation, notably
around Massawa.
This was an area of considerable political unrest until
separation from Ethiopia was attained in 1993, and there
has been sporadic unrest in the south of the country since
that time. As a result of these problems there is no significant tourism industry, although it seems likely that this
could develop relatively rapidly as and when social and
economic stability allow. Considerable efforts have been
underway since 1999 to develop a comprehensive management regime for the country's coastal resources, including
the designation of protected areas.
Yemeni Red Sea
Yemen has a long coastline, with a short section facing the
Red Sea and a much longer one (described below) facing the
Gulf of Aden. In the Red Sea. the Yemen has a more densely
populated coastline than many other areas. There are oil
terminals in Hudaydah and Mukha, and oil pollution together with sewage and industrial development may be
having localized impacts. As with Eritrea, political and
military instability have prevented the development of
tourism. Fisheries are important, including an offshore trawl
fishery, but also line and net fisheries, with reports of
overfishing in some areas. A significant sharkfin fishery has
been reported in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden,
with many fishers coming from Yemen, and often operating
illegally in the waters of neighboring countries. Apart from
driving a rapid decline in shark stocks there is reported to
be a considerable by-catch, including turtles and dolphins.
WORLD ATLAS OF CORAL REEFS
are largely explained by changes in environmental
conditions, including increased turbidity and the loss of
deeper water species. South of Massawa. reefs support significant growths of Sargassum and other macroalgae during
the winter, a pattern similar to the coastal communities of
southern Arabia. Some of the smaller islands in the
southern Red Sea are of regional importance for seabird
colonies, and there are important dugong populations in the
surrounding waters. Bleaching during the 1998 El Nifio
event was observed in Eritrea, although mortality was restricted to some shallow water colonies. Such incidents may
well have been more widespread in the region, although in
Yemen many corals had m fact died in localized bleaching
events during a similar warming event in 1995.
Eritrea
The reefs of Eritrea are extensive and suffered little
human impact before the 1990s. Since then there have
been small increases in both the coastal population and
fisheries. Commercial trawlers, including licensed vessels
operating from Saudi Arabia, fish mostly in deeper water
away from the reefs, although there are thought to be
some reef-associated species in their catch, and there is
concern that this might indicate they are straying into reef
areas. Artisanal fisheries target a broad range of species,
including finfish, molluscs, sea cucumbers and pearl
oysters. There is also a commercial fishery for the aquarium
trade, and around 100 000 fish were exported between 1995
and 1997. The most important and diverse reefs, around the
ofTshore islands including the Dahlak Archipelago, remain
in relatively good condition despite the lack of legal
protection. By contrast some of the coastal reefs have
Eritrea
General Data
Population (thousands!
A 136
GDP (million US$1
1
^31
Land area (km^l
120 641
Marine area (thousand km^j
39
Per capita fish consumption (kg/year)
<1
Status and Threats
Reefs at risk (%l
66
Recorded coral diseases
Biodiversity
Reef area (km^j
3 260
Coral diversity
na / 333
Mangrove area (km^l
581
No. of mangrove species
3
No. of seagrass species
na
Yemen
General Data
Population Ithousandsl
17 479
GDP (million US$1
15 387
Land area (km^l
733 130
Marine area (thousand km^j
547
Per capita fish consumption (kg/yearl
7
Status and Threats
Reefs at risk (%1
73
Recorded coral diseases
Biodiversity
Reef area (km^j
700
Coral diversity*
na / 344
Mangrove area (km^j
81
No. of mangrove species
2
No. of seagrass species
8
• The higher coral diversity figure is lil
includes the Gulf of Aden and Socotra
'^^s^am^t
suffered from development and land reclamation, notably
around Massawa.
This was an area of considerable political unrest until
separation from Ethiopia was attained in 1993, and there
has been sporadic unrest in the south of the country since
that time. As a result of these problems there is no significant tourism industry, although it seems likely that this
could develop relatively rapidly as and when social and
economic stability allow. Considerable efforts have been
underway since 1999 to develop a comprehensive management regime for the country's coastal resources, including
the designation of protected areas.
Yemeni Red Sea
Yemen has a long coastline, with a short section facing the
Red Sea and a much longer one (described below) facing the
Gulf of Aden. In the Red Sea. the Yemen has a more densely
populated coastline than many other areas. There are oil
terminals in Hudaydah and Mukha, and oil pollution together with sewage and industrial development may be
having localized impacts. As with Eritrea, political and
military instability have prevented the development of
tourism. Fisheries are important, including an offshore trawl
fishery, but also line and net fisheries, with reports of
overfishing in some areas. A significant sharkfin fishery has
been reported in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden,
with many fishers coming from Yemen, and often operating
illegally in the waters of neighboring countries. Apart from
driving a rapid decline in shark stocks there is reported to
be a considerable by-catch, including turtles and dolphins.