Status of Coral Reefs of the World 2000

Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2000
the RSGA countries in developing Marine Protected Areas. Eritrea operates independently
of PERSGA, not being a member of the Arab League.
The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden contain complex and unique tropical marine ecosystems,
especially coral reefs, with high biological diversity and many endemic species. The reefs
are surrounded by some of the driest parts of the world, such that continental influences
are limited, but these narrow waters are also major shipping lanes to the Suez Canal and
major petroleum industry activities. While large parts of the region are still in a pristine state,
environmental threats, notably from habitat destruction, over-exploitation and pollution, are
increasing rapidly, requiring immediate action to protect the coastal and marine
environment. Humans have used these reef resources in this region for thousands of years,
although most inhabitants are not ‘sea peoples’. The coral reefs of the region contain more
than 250 species of hard (scleractinian) corals, being the highest diversity in any part of the
Indian Ocean. The stable warm waters and lack of major fresh water runoff provide ideal
conditions for coral reef formation along the coasts.
The Gulf of Aden is influenced by the seasonal upwellings of cool, nutrient rich waters from
the Indian Ocean, limiting coral reef development and promoting planktonic and large
algae. Despite this, there are diverse and complex reefs and non-reef assemblages in the
Gulf of Aden. Some of the sandy beaches are major nesting sites for sea turtles, and the
Socotra archipelago is being considered as World Biosphere Reserve site. The Red Sea is an
isolated reservoir of marine biodiversity of global importance. A wide range of ecosystems
have developed with high biodiversity and endemism, particularly for reef fishes and other
organisms. There is an almost continuous band of coral reef along the northern Red Sea and
Gulf of Aqaba, which physically protects the shoreline. Coral reefs in the shallow Gulf of
Suez are less well developed as this area is usually quite turbid and has extremes of
temperature and salinity. Further south, the shelf becomes much broader and shallower and
the fringing reefs gradually disappear, to be replaced with shallow, muddy shorelines. But
many coral reefs grow on offshore pinnacles and around islands off the coast.
Although most reefs in the region are still pristine in most areas, threats are increasing
rapidly and the reefs are being damaged by coastal development and other human
activities. Major threats include: landfilling and dredging for coastal expansion; destructive
fishing methods; damage by scuba divers, shipping and maritime activities, sewage and
other pollution discharges; lack of public awareness; and insufficient implementation of the
laws for reef conservation.
GEOGRAPHICAL REEF COVERAGE AND EXTENT
Reefs in the Red Sea are particularly well developed, with predominantly fringing reefs in
the north and platform, pinnacle and atoll reefs offshore in the south, with sandy lagoon
type environments towards the shore. The coast of Gulf of Aden supports only patchy reef
distribution, but the Socotra archipelago is fringed by extensive reefs.
Djibouti
The coastline is fringed by extensive coral reefs in places; the north coast is generally
shallow and sandy, with a few coral outcrops, but the Sawabi archipelago has fringing
36