The Status and Management of Coral

Reefs in The United Arab Emirates

Ashraf Al Cibahy* and

Thabit Al Abdesalaam

*E-mail: aalcibahy@ead.ae

www.ead.ae

Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD)

UAE

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UAE Country Profile

Surface area: 83,600 km2 (Abu Dhabi = 87% of total).

Coastline: 650 km (Arabian Gulf) 90 km (Gulf of Oman).

Population: 4.1 million (2005 census

Economy: GDP (2002) = US $ 65.9 billion (Oil and natural gas = 33.9%).

Coastal Habitats: Salt pans, sand flats, coral reefs, sea grass beds, mangroves, tidal inlets.

UAE Coastal Characteristics

UAE Oceanographic characteristics

Monthly seawater temperatures for the waters of the UAE (2002).

Chlorophyll-a concentration in UAE waters during February 2002 (SeaWiFS oceanographic satellite).

Arabian Gulf: Salinity 40 - 44 ppt, temp 20.9 – 34.2 oC

Gulf of Oman: Salinity 35 – 37 ppt, temp 23.1 – 25.0 oC

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Arabian Gulf

Gulf of Oman

Natural constraints to coral reef development (UAE-Arabian Gulf Waters)

• Extreme temperature range & anomalies (10-15 yrs).

• Extreme salinity range.

• Extensive areas of unconsolidated carbonate sediments.

• Scouring action by mobile sediments on limestone substrates.

• High levels of suspended sediment.

Coral reef structure and developmentin UAE

Arabian Gulf

•Poorly developed patch reefs dominated by Acropora and Porites (10% cover).

•Fringing reefs around off-shore islands dominated by mono-specific stands.

•Cycles of mortality, breakdown and re-growth inhibit framework accumulation.

Gulf of Oman

•More favorable conditions for coral growth and reef development.

•Relatively clear water and less extreme temperature and salinity ranges.

•Greater species diversity, live coral cover and variety of growth forms.

Species Diversity (Hermatypic Corals) in the UAE

Acropora valida

Porites lobata

Pseudosiderastrea tayami

Favites pentagona

Turbinaria pelata

Stylophora pistillata

Acanthastraea echinata

Total = 36 species

(Arabian Gulf waters)

Family Family

Acroporidae (8)

Poritidae (6)

Siderastreidae (4)

Faviidae (12)

Dendrophyllidae(2)

Pocilloporidae(1)

Mussidae (1)

(Photos: Charlie Veron)

Distribution of coral reefs in the UAE

(Source: World Conservation Monitoring Centre, 2003)

Total coral reef surface area = 1,190 km2 (Spalding et al., 2001)

Value and uses of coral reefs in the UAE

• Support fisheries.• Provide recreational services eg.

diving and snorkeling.• Tourism (generation of foreign

exchange).• Storm surge and coastal erosion

protection (off-shore islands).• Critical habitats essential for the

maintenance of biodiversity.• Scientific value (especially given

existence in an extreme environment).

Monitoring and Assessment

(1) Jebel Ali Marine Sanctuary

• A coral reef monitoring program has been maintained in the Jebel Ali Marine Sanctuary since 1995 by the Dubai municipality.

• Techniques used include side-scan sonar, video mapping, remote sensing and acoustic seabed mapping. Survey area = 37.7 km 2.

• Surveys have enabled the assessment of 2 coral bleaching episodes during 1996 and 1998.

• Concise maps have been produced for management planning and monitoring purposes.

Monitoring and Assessment

(2) Marawah Marine Protected Area

•A synoptic survey of the Marawah MPA (5,561 km2) revealed the distribution and species composition of corals over a large area off the coast of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

•However, the survey was only implemented in order to establish areas of high conservation value as part of the initial effort to designate the MPA.

Monitoring and Assessment

(3) Marine biotope monitoring off Abu Dhabi

•Natural History Museum of the UK carried out a monitoring program of marine biotopes in the waters off Abu Dhabi.

•Surveys covered 2 catastrophic bleaching events during 1996 and 1998 which were associated with prolonged positive seawater temperature anomalies.

•Surveys are no longer on-going.

Monitoring and Assessment

•MERC of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) conducts aerial surveys for dugongs, turtles, dolphins and marine macro fauna in the waters of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

•Whilst the survey is not specifically designed to monitor coral reefs it does record habitat type along transects, the categories used include seagrass, corals and sandy bottom.

•Additional data collected of relevance to reef monitoring includes the pressure on habitats (number of vessels, fishing nets observed, oil pollution and turbidity).

(4) Marine macro-fauna surveys

Monitoring and Assessment(5) Miscellaneous coral reef associated research & monitoring programsThe Marine Environmental Research Center of EAD implements the following monitoring and assessment activities: Fish population dynamics: Fisheries resource assessment, catch and effort monitoring and

fisheries management (includes reef associated species).

Fishing gear investigations: Development of escape panels to prevent 'ghost fishing' and reduce the retention of juvenile fish.

Phytoplankton blooms: Phytoplankton monitoring in the coastal waters of Abu Dhabi.

Sea turtles: Satellite tagging, nesting surveys, rearing and release.

Oceanography: Coastal water circulation/drifter buoy study.

Marine Protected Areas: MPAs management, planning, surveillance and enforcement and justification of other opportunities in marine and coastal areas of Abu Dhabi Emirate.

Coral reef project

Title: Coral Reef Investigation in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the Eastern Cost of Qatar

(6) CORAL REEF PROJECT

Sponsor: Dolphin Energy

Client / Coordinator: Environment Agency –Abu Dhabi (EAD) and SCENR-Qatar

Management: EWS-WWF

Technical Investigator: NCRI-Florida-USA

Monitoring and Assessment

Project Goal

To develop and advance the conservation, management and sustainable use of coral reefs and associated habitats in the waters off the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and Qatar, through the provision of accurate biological, ecological and socio-economic information.

CORAL REEF PROJECT

Project Objectives

• Provide specific – tailor made monitoring and assessment approaches to the unique env. of AD

• Map and assess the status of coral reef habitats in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and Qatar

• Investigate biodiversity of corals, and associated habitats / Spp.

• Establish baseline conditions for long term monitoring• Ensure compatibility with int. initiatives of coral

monitoring• Evaluate alternative approaches to rehabilitation• Develop capacity building of UAE/Qatari research

personnel for long term monitoring• Propose a conservation and management strategy for

implementation by state authorities.

Project Outputs

• Study of the distribution, status and threats to coral reefs within Abu Dhabi/Qatar

• Atlas and coral reef identification guide

• Coral reef conservation and management plan

• Solid scientific base for further development by EAD/SCENR

• Opportunities for media awareness campaigns

• Capacity building

CORAL REEF PROJECT: Training

Classroom:• Remote sensing• Coral reef

evolution and life forms

Field:• Ground truthing• Coral reef identification

Field:• Sediment sampling• % Cover

Results of Resource Assessment for Coral Reefs at the Offshore Islands of

Abu Dhabi

CORAL REEF PROJECT

Arzanah Island

51 sites evaluated, of which 11 showed coral growth.

The densest coral growth was found on the western side of the islands. The coral community was in the very early phases of regeneration.

Coral cover was between 1 and 5%. Coral species encountered were:

Platygyra daedalea, Platygyra lamellinaFavia pallida, Porites harrisoniPorites lutea, Cyphastrea microphthalma? Psammocora. sp., Acropora clathrata (40 cm diameter)

Corals are healthy and no diseases were observed. The relatively uniform size distribution of corals suggests that all originated from sexually produced gametes of an upstream source

Das Island A total of 27 sites were evaluated, of

which 5 showed coral growth. The coral community was in the very early

phases of regeneration. Coral cover was around 1%.

Coral species encountered were: Platygyra lamellina , Favia pallida Porites harrisoni

The few observed corals appeared to be of good health and no diseases were observed.

The relatively uniform size distribution of corals suggests that all originated from sexually produced gametes of an upstream source.

Diyenat Island

31 sites were evaluated, of which 17 showed coral growth.

The coral community was in early phases of regeneration.

Coral cover was around 1%.

Coral species encountered were:Platygyra lamellina, Favia pallidaPorites harrisoni, Porites lutea

The observed corals are healthy and no diseases were observed.

The relatively uniform size distribution of corals suggests that all originated from sexually produced gametes of an upstream source

Qrnen Island

31 sites were evaluated, of which 17 showed coral growth.

The coral community was in the very early phases of regeneration.

Coral cover was between 1 and 5%. Coral species encountered were:

Platygyra lamellina, Favia pallidaCyphastrea microphthalma, Turbinaria reniformis, Pseudosiderastrea tayamai, Plesiastrea versipora, Porites harrisoni, Porites lutea

The observed corals are healthy - no diseases were observed.

The relatively uniform size distribution of corals suggests that all originated from sexually produced gametes of an upstream source

Zarkawh Island

2 sites were evaluated, of which 11 showed coral growth.

The densest coral growth was found on the north-western side of the islands.

The coral community was in the very early phases of regeneration.

Coral cover was between 1 and a maximum of 5%.

Coral species encountered were:Platygyra daedalea, Platygyra lamellinaFavia pallida, Porites harrisoniPorites lutea, Cyphastrea microphthalmaAcropora clathrata (small recruit)

Corals were all healthy - no diseases were observed.

The relatively uniform size distribution of corals suggests that all originated from sexually produced gametes of an upstream source

Al Hil Island 6 sites were evaluated, all of which were

situated within a dense coral biostrome and of which 3 showed coral growth.

The coral community showed all the signs of serious mortality suffered during the previous thermal stress events

Coral cover was between 1 and 5% and this was the sight with the strongest Acropora recruitment of all sites.

Coral species encountered were:Platygyra daedalea, Platygyra lamellinaFavia pallida, Porites harrisoniPorites lutea, Cyphastrea microphthalmaAcropora clathrata, Acropora arabensis

Corals were all of good health and no diseases were observed

Significance of findings

Results show clear signs of the coral system’s resilience in the face of what was likely the strongest disturbance of the century

Despite three marked thermal anomalies and their associated coral mass mortality, the reefs are not dead and show very active signs of regeneration.

So far, no extinctions have yet been identified, however, overall coral biodiversity still remains depressed and coral coverage of available substratum remains at record low levels.

The observed corals bear clear evidence of a fertile upstream seeding population and active spread of sexual propagules throughout the region.

There is no evidence for asexual increase in coral populations yet, largely because the colonies are still too small

The active recruitment and reproduction indicates that remaining corals are good health. Thus, there is hope for a full recovery of the coral systems.

Project ProgressProject ProgressYear 1 Percent completed

10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Large-scale map of entire area                  

Image classification                  

Field trips                    

Assess potential for recovery                    

Publish and circulate results

Production of draft training manuals                    

Choose trainees                    

Year 2 Percent completed

Fine-scale map of selected areas          

Groundtruthing of image                

Field trips          

Assess potential for recovery          

Publish and circulate results          

Finalization of training manuals          

Continuation of training          

Institutional Framework for Coral Reef Conservation in UAE

Federal Government

Local (Emirate) Government

Non-Governmental

International

Ministry of Environment and Water

Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi

Oil Companies eg. ADNOC, ADCO, Dolphin, etc

Gulf Co-operative Council (GCC)

Federal Environment Agency

UAE University Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine Environment (ROPME)

National Coastguard and Marine Police

Municipalities eg. the Marine Environment and Sanctuaries Unit of Dubai Municipality

Emirates Wildlife Society (EWS)

Emirates Diving Association

United Nations (IOC/UNEP/UNDP/UNESCO)

Conservation and Management Initiatives for Coral Reef Conservation in UAE

Federal Laws eg. no. 23, 1999 on the Exploitation, Protection and Development of Living Aquatic Resources in the UAE.

Federal Law no. 24 for the Protection and Development of the Environment.

Decrees eg. Decree no. 1 of June 1995 demarcating coral reef areas on the East Coast for protection.

International Conventions: CITES, CBD etc.

Management & Action Plans

Regional: Regional Action Plan for the Conservation of Coral Reefs in the Arabian Seas Region (ROPME Sea Area)Kuwait Action Plan

National: eg. Environmental Strategy and Action Plans for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. (EAD).

Marawah Marine Protected Area Management Plan.

Conservation and Management Initiatives:MPAs

Threats & Management IssuesBleaching: Coral mortality (up to 98%) following bleaching events associated with increases in the frequency and prolongation of positive seawater temperature anomalies. Note: diversity in the Jebel Ali Wildlife Sanctuary reduced from 34 to 27 species following the 1996 bleaching event.

Crown of Thorns: periodically abundant on East Coast reefs where they have caused extensive damage.

Disease: Yellow-band, Black-band and white band diseases present and prevalence maybe increased by anthropogenic stressors.

Threats & Management Issues

Threats & Management Issues

Threats & Management Issues

Effects of fishing eg. by-catch

Conclusions

1. The coral reefs of the UAE have cultural, economic and scientific value.

2. Threats are primarily derived from positive seawater temperature anomalies, hyper-saline and thermal cooling water discharges, dredging and landfill, urban refuse and the effects of fishing.

3. Coral reef monitoring activities in the UAE started in 1995. Monitoring has relied on international expertise highlighting the need for national capacity building.

4. There are a variety of conservation and management initiatives being implemented by NGO’s as well as local/federal government institutions and international organizations. (Legislation, strategic action plans, MPAs, education and awareness campaigns etc.)

Acknowledgement:

Bernhard Riegl and Samuel Purkis (NCRI, Florida)

Thabit Zahran, Suad Al Harthi, Mohamed Jassim, Hamad Al Mazroei, (EAD, UAE)

Nasser AL Shaiba (EHS,Dubai Ports)

EWS-WWF

Dolphin Energy