CORDIO Status Report 1999.pdf

Status report Socotra Archipelago
DR JOHN R TURNER
School of Ocean Sciences, University of Wales, UK
INTRODUCTION
The Socotra Archipelago is located in the north-western
Indian Ocean, on the boundary of the Arabian Sea, 225
km east of Horn Africa, at 53–54 o E, 12 o 30’N. It is a part
of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Yemen. Four
islands make up the archipelago, main Socotra and the
Brothers: Abd el Kuri, Semha and Darsha. They are
exposed, high and arid granitic islands with limestone
plateaus and fluvial plains. The coastline consists of
exposed, rocky coasts with cliffs, rocky headlines, cobble
shores, and some sand beaches and dunes. Mangrove
only occur behind sand berms or in sheltered wadis/
quorhs.
The size of the human population on Socotra is not
known – estimates range from 30,000 to 80,000. (Mountain
communities are probably uncensored.) Most of
them are goat herders, fishermen and date palm grove
growers. People on the islands live in extreme poverty,
with poor health and low life expectancy. No development.
FISHING AND TOURISM
Fishing communities are scattered all around the
islands. They fish lobster, reef fish and sharks for their
fins. Fishing techniques most commonly used are catch
nets, throw nets, line and a few cages. A cold store has
been built, but is not yet operating. Thus, there is no
market for fish unless Omani, UAE or Taiwan buyer
boats are in the area. Fishing is probably well below
sustainable yield, although small sharks (< 50 cm) may
be overfished.
The islands have not been accessible for foreigners,
and there is no tourism.
CORAL REEF BIOTOPES
The south coasts of the islands are rock/boulder dominated
by macroalgae. There are also small (< 25 cm)
faviids, small massives and encrusting corals and soft
corals subordinate to the algal meadows. North and
eastern coasts support low profile spur and groove coral
structures and coral on limestone platform down to 8–9
m. They are mostly made up of Acropora formosa,
Acropora clathrata (up to 2 m on Socotra, better developed
up to 3 m on Semha), Acropora valida with Stylophora
pistillata and Turbinaria frondens, Goniastrea,
Platygyra daedala and Porites. Massives are generally <
0.5 m, except at one site where they are > 3 m. Small
faviids and encrusting corals subordinate everywhere,
also in deeper water.
The environment of Socotra is pristine, except
immediately adjacent to the two small towns and the
fishing villages.
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