Middle Eastern Seas
^^^^^ United Arab Emirates
General Data
Population (thousandsl
2 369
GDP (million US$1
/il /i98
Land area Iknn^l
78 982
Marine area (thousand km^l
52
Per capita fish consumption [kg/yearl
29
Status and Threats
Reefs at risk (%|
65
Recorded coral diseases
3
Biodiversity
Reef area (km^l
1
190
Coral diversity
30/68
Mangrove area (km^l
30
No. of mangrove species
1
No. of seagrass species
1
few shallow structures which may be of reefal origin, but
do not appear to be accreting structures at the present
time. One feature common across much of the region is
the periodic decimation of reef communities during
occasional cold water events which may arise through a
combination of cold upwelling and wind-driven cooling
on already cool winter temperatures. During the 1997-98
El Nifio event, coral bleaching was recorded at a number
of localities, with considerable coral mortality in shallow
waters near several countries.
In human terms the most important natural resource in
the region is oil, with almost two thirds of the worlds
proven oil reserves located in the Gulf and adjacent land
areas. This has had an enormous influence over the
envirormient of the region, including the construction of
numerous oil platforms, but more importantly the release of
massive quantities of oil into the marine environment. Prior
to the Gulf War in 1991 the waters of the Arabian Gulf
already had the worlds highest concentrations of hydrocarbons. Much was the result of ballast water discharge
from tankers (20 000-35 000 tankers pass through the
Straits of Hormuz annually). Further release comes from
accidents on the oil platforms and deliberate releases as a
result of war. The Nowruz blow-out, a direct result of the
Iran-Iraq war, released an estimated 500 000 barrels of oil.
Even so, this was greatly surpassed by the Gulf War in
1991, when total releases were of the order of 6-1 1 million
barrels. Somewhat surprisingly the ecological impacts of
this pollution may not be as great on coral reefs as might be
expected. For the most part there is no direct physical
contact with corals, and hence the smothering of corals was
somewhat limited. The longer term effects of oil on coral
growth and reproduction (see Chapter 2) may be a little
more difficult to ascertain however, and may be combined
with other environmental stresses.
Fishing is another important industry in the region,
with a large industrial trawl fishery which targets shrimp
during the open season and finfish for the rest of the year.
For the most part these are targeted away from coral areas.
The shrimp fisheries were heavily affected by the Gulf
War and shrimp stocks collapsed to only 1 percent of
their pre-war biomass. Other fisheries are small-scale
commercial or artisanal. typically operating from small
craft and dhow and using line and trap fishing methods.
Although this region was once famous for its pearl oyster
fishery this has largely closed with the influx of cultured
pearls. There is now a growing recreational fishery which
may have an impact on reef communities in some areas.
Reef-based tourism is virtually non-existent in the
region, although there is a small amount of recreational
diving among local and expatriate residents, some of
whom are actively involved in environmental protection
and rehabilitation. Although there is a strong interest in
the environment in a number of these countries and a
significant number of marine protected areas have been
proposed, only a few have actually been declared, and only
one of these includes coral reefs.
United Arab Emirates
The nearshore waters of the western parts of the United
Arab Emirates are shallow, with relatively low water
circulation, and some of the highest salinities in the Gulf
Although there are seagrasses, these waters are unsuitable
for coral growth. Further offshore there are patch reefs
and fringing reefs around many of the islands. Diversity is
The island of Bahrain, together with platform reef structures. Active coral growth is limited to only small areas of these
platforms l5T5078-7i8-11. 19961.
^^^^^ United Arab Emirates
General Data
Population (thousandsl
2 369
GDP (million US$1
/il /i98
Land area Iknn^l
78 982
Marine area (thousand km^l
52
Per capita fish consumption [kg/yearl
29
Status and Threats
Reefs at risk (%|
65
Recorded coral diseases
3
Biodiversity
Reef area (km^l
1
190
Coral diversity
30/68
Mangrove area (km^l
30
No. of mangrove species
1
No. of seagrass species
1
few shallow structures which may be of reefal origin, but
do not appear to be accreting structures at the present
time. One feature common across much of the region is
the periodic decimation of reef communities during
occasional cold water events which may arise through a
combination of cold upwelling and wind-driven cooling
on already cool winter temperatures. During the 1997-98
El Nifio event, coral bleaching was recorded at a number
of localities, with considerable coral mortality in shallow
waters near several countries.
In human terms the most important natural resource in
the region is oil, with almost two thirds of the worlds
proven oil reserves located in the Gulf and adjacent land
areas. This has had an enormous influence over the
envirormient of the region, including the construction of
numerous oil platforms, but more importantly the release of
massive quantities of oil into the marine environment. Prior
to the Gulf War in 1991 the waters of the Arabian Gulf
already had the worlds highest concentrations of hydrocarbons. Much was the result of ballast water discharge
from tankers (20 000-35 000 tankers pass through the
Straits of Hormuz annually). Further release comes from
accidents on the oil platforms and deliberate releases as a
result of war. The Nowruz blow-out, a direct result of the
Iran-Iraq war, released an estimated 500 000 barrels of oil.
Even so, this was greatly surpassed by the Gulf War in
1991, when total releases were of the order of 6-1 1 million
barrels. Somewhat surprisingly the ecological impacts of
this pollution may not be as great on coral reefs as might be
expected. For the most part there is no direct physical
contact with corals, and hence the smothering of corals was
somewhat limited. The longer term effects of oil on coral
growth and reproduction (see Chapter 2) may be a little
more difficult to ascertain however, and may be combined
with other environmental stresses.
Fishing is another important industry in the region,
with a large industrial trawl fishery which targets shrimp
during the open season and finfish for the rest of the year.
For the most part these are targeted away from coral areas.
The shrimp fisheries were heavily affected by the Gulf
War and shrimp stocks collapsed to only 1 percent of
their pre-war biomass. Other fisheries are small-scale
commercial or artisanal. typically operating from small
craft and dhow and using line and trap fishing methods.
Although this region was once famous for its pearl oyster
fishery this has largely closed with the influx of cultured
pearls. There is now a growing recreational fishery which
may have an impact on reef communities in some areas.
Reef-based tourism is virtually non-existent in the
region, although there is a small amount of recreational
diving among local and expatriate residents, some of
whom are actively involved in environmental protection
and rehabilitation. Although there is a strong interest in
the environment in a number of these countries and a
significant number of marine protected areas have been
proposed, only a few have actually been declared, and only
one of these includes coral reefs.
United Arab Emirates
The nearshore waters of the western parts of the United
Arab Emirates are shallow, with relatively low water
circulation, and some of the highest salinities in the Gulf
Although there are seagrasses, these waters are unsuitable
for coral growth. Further offshore there are patch reefs
and fringing reefs around many of the islands. Diversity is
The island of Bahrain, together with platform reef structures. Active coral growth is limited to only small areas of these
platforms l5T5078-7i8-11. 19961.