1 The African Marginal and Enclosed Seas: An Overview
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due to 2000 km of coral reefs and other particular habitats, such as mangrove forests,
seagrass beds and salt marshes, distributed throughout the region.
These unique habitats support a wide range of marine life (including sea turtles,
dugongs and other marine mammals). Coral reefs mainly extend along the northern
and central coasts, and decrease in abundance towards the southern region, as coastal
waters become more turbid. In the central region, corals are mainly found 3–10 km
offshore, along a narrow bank, forming a large barrier reef structure that runs parallel
to the coastline. The most extensive areas of coral reefs are found along the Arabian
Peninsula coast, with over 194 recorded species. Mangrove forests are scattered
along much of the coastline, but their highest concentration is in the southern region,
due to the soft bottom substrate. Various species of seagrass are widespread in the
basin, and are most common in the lagoons and embayments of the southern region.
Although seven countries border the Red Sea, namely Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea,
Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Israel, the region is sparsely populated, with no
more than 5 million people estimated to live along the coast. The area of Jeddah,
in Saudia Arabia, with over 2 million residents, has the highest population. The
major industries in the region are linked to oil exploration, extraction, processing and
transport. In fact, in spite of the fame due to its natural beauty, the Red Sea constitutes
a major shipping route for oil tankers and other vessels travelling through the Suez
Canal. Fisheries and, more recently, tourism also started to play an important role in
the local economy. Though the Red Sea accounts for 0.123 % of the total world ocean
area, its contribution to the world fish catch is only 0.07 %. Nevertheless, it has fish
resources – including classical fisheries, but also fish collection for aquarium trade,
as well as pearl oyster and shrimp farming – that are significant to the countries in the
region, providing a good source of protein and livelihood for coastal communities.
Due to the high diversity of marine life and favorable climate, tourism has also
become a major factor in many Red Sea countries, with over 1 million tourists per
year expected in the future.
Although the Red Sea has remained relatively free of pollution, its environment is
under increasing threat from a wide range of human activities, both land-based and,
primarily, marine-based. Destruction of habitat, due to urban expansion, industrial
development and particularly tourism, is on the rise. So is the over-exploitation of
some living marine resources, such as lobsters, sharks and sea turtles. The Red
Sea has several marine protected areas, the best known being the Ras Mohammed
National Park, at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula; Hurghada and the adjacent
islands along the Egyptian coast; Sanganeb atoll in Sudan; and the Farasan Islands
in Saudi Arabia.
1.6 Rift Valley Lakes
The Rift Valley lakes, accounted here among the main water basins of Africa, are a
group of lakes in the East African Rift running in the north-south direction, through
the eastern part of the continent (Fig. 1.6). The East African Rift came into being
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due to 2000 km of coral reefs and other particular habitats, such as mangrove forests,
seagrass beds and salt marshes, distributed throughout the region.
These unique habitats support a wide range of marine life (including sea turtles,
dugongs and other marine mammals). Coral reefs mainly extend along the northern
and central coasts, and decrease in abundance towards the southern region, as coastal
waters become more turbid. In the central region, corals are mainly found 3–10 km
offshore, along a narrow bank, forming a large barrier reef structure that runs parallel
to the coastline. The most extensive areas of coral reefs are found along the Arabian
Peninsula coast, with over 194 recorded species. Mangrove forests are scattered
along much of the coastline, but their highest concentration is in the southern region,
due to the soft bottom substrate. Various species of seagrass are widespread in the
basin, and are most common in the lagoons and embayments of the southern region.
Although seven countries border the Red Sea, namely Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea,
Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Israel, the region is sparsely populated, with no
more than 5 million people estimated to live along the coast. The area of Jeddah,
in Saudia Arabia, with over 2 million residents, has the highest population. The
major industries in the region are linked to oil exploration, extraction, processing and
transport. In fact, in spite of the fame due to its natural beauty, the Red Sea constitutes
a major shipping route for oil tankers and other vessels travelling through the Suez
Canal. Fisheries and, more recently, tourism also started to play an important role in
the local economy. Though the Red Sea accounts for 0.123 % of the total world ocean
area, its contribution to the world fish catch is only 0.07 %. Nevertheless, it has fish
resources – including classical fisheries, but also fish collection for aquarium trade,
as well as pearl oyster and shrimp farming – that are significant to the countries in the
region, providing a good source of protein and livelihood for coastal communities.
Due to the high diversity of marine life and favorable climate, tourism has also
become a major factor in many Red Sea countries, with over 1 million tourists per
year expected in the future.
Although the Red Sea has remained relatively free of pollution, its environment is
under increasing threat from a wide range of human activities, both land-based and,
primarily, marine-based. Destruction of habitat, due to urban expansion, industrial
development and particularly tourism, is on the rise. So is the over-exploitation of
some living marine resources, such as lobsters, sharks and sea turtles. The Red
Sea has several marine protected areas, the best known being the Ras Mohammed
National Park, at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula; Hurghada and the adjacent
islands along the Egyptian coast; Sanganeb atoll in Sudan; and the Farasan Islands
in Saudi Arabia.
1.6 Rift Valley Lakes
The Rift Valley lakes, accounted here among the main water basins of Africa, are a
group of lakes in the East African Rift running in the north-south direction, through
the eastern part of the continent (Fig. 1.6). The East African Rift came into being