Status of Coral Reefs of the World 2000
Status of Coral Reefs of the World 2000.pdf
Status of Coral Reefs of the World 2000.pdf
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Regional <strong>Status</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Coral</strong> <strong>Reefs</strong> in <strong>the</strong> Red Sea and <strong>the</strong> Gulf <strong>of</strong> Aden<br />
development, including land reclamation, primarily at Massawa which is reducing <strong>the</strong><br />
capacity <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> reefs to provide coastal erosion. In addition, <strong>the</strong>re are potential threats<br />
from curio collecting, discharges from <strong>the</strong> oil terminal; sewage and solid waste disposal,<br />
cooling effluents from desalination and power plants, and sedimentation <strong>of</strong> cement<br />
dust. Recreational tourism is largely undeveloped and coral mining in uncommon. <strong>Coral</strong><br />
collecting is prohibited, but shell and ornamental fish collection are commercial<br />
operations, with more than 100,000 fish exported between 1995 and 1997. Shipping<br />
is increasing in Massawa up to 440 per year in 1996. Despite <strong>the</strong>se threats, <strong>the</strong><br />
general status <strong>of</strong> Eritrean coral is good, and bleaching during <strong>the</strong> summers <strong>of</strong> 1997 to<br />
1999, caused <strong>the</strong> some loss <strong>of</strong> foliaceous and branching Montipora corals in shallow<br />
areas (1m or less), but massive Porites and Platygyra were less affected. These reefs<br />
contain among <strong>the</strong> most resistant corals in <strong>the</strong> region, evidenced by rapid recovery<br />
from <strong>the</strong> bleaching. From: Meriwe<strong>the</strong>r Wilson (meriwe<strong>the</strong>r.wilson@glg.ed.ac.uk)<br />
Jordan<br />
The short coastline (27km) has fringing reefs along 50% <strong>the</strong> coast, with high coral diversity<br />
and associated fauna.<br />
Saudi Arabia: <strong>Coral</strong> reefs fringe <strong>the</strong> entire Red Sea coastline and <strong>of</strong>fshore islands, with<br />
several distinct areas <strong>of</strong> similar habitats and species composition: <strong>the</strong> Gulf <strong>of</strong> Aqaba in <strong>the</strong><br />
north; <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn-central section from south <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Gulf <strong>of</strong> Aqaba to Jeddah; and <strong>the</strong><br />
central-sou<strong>the</strong>rn region from Jeddah to <strong>the</strong> Yemen border, including <strong>the</strong> Farasan Bank and<br />
Islands. The nor<strong>the</strong>rn-central area has an almost continuous coral reef tract with many reef<br />
types: mainland and island fringing reefs; various forms <strong>of</strong> patch reef; coral pinnacles; and<br />
ribbon barrier reefs. <strong>Reefs</strong> fringe <strong>the</strong> mainland and <strong>of</strong>ten into <strong>the</strong> entrances and sides <strong>of</strong><br />
sharms (lagoon-like inlets). Circular to elongate patch reefs are common in <strong>of</strong>fshore waters<br />
less than 50m depth. Pinnacles (individual corals and coral ‘bommies’ surrounded by sand)<br />
occur in shallow waters (less than 10m), particularly in <strong>the</strong> Al-Wajh Bank and Tiran areas.<br />
Barrier reefs composed <strong>of</strong> platform and ‘ribbon’ reef structures occur fur<strong>the</strong>r <strong>of</strong>fshore on<br />
<strong>the</strong> ‘continental’ edge, where depths drop from 50m to more than 200m. The centralsou<strong>the</strong>rn<br />
area is unique in having atoll-like or ‘tower’ reefs along <strong>the</strong> shelf edge and <strong>the</strong><br />
outer Farasan Bank. Fur<strong>the</strong>r south, <strong>the</strong> reefs are less well developed along <strong>the</strong> mainland<br />
coast because <strong>of</strong> high levels <strong>of</strong> fine sediments, however, complex reef structures<br />
developed fur<strong>the</strong>r <strong>of</strong>fshore on <strong>the</strong> Farasan Bank and islands.<br />
Somalia<br />
The coastline is divided into north and south sectors, separated by <strong>the</strong> Horn <strong>of</strong> Africa.<br />
There are flourishing coral reefs along <strong>the</strong> Gulf <strong>of</strong> Aden coastline near Raas Khansir, Raas<br />
Cuuda Siyara, and <strong>of</strong>f El Girdi and west <strong>of</strong> Berbera.<br />
Sudan<br />
There are three coral habitat groups on <strong>the</strong> coast: barrier reefs; fringing reefs; and Sanganeb,<br />
an oceanic atoll towards <strong>the</strong> Egyptian border. Most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> coast is bordered by fringing<br />
reefs 1-3km wide which are separated by deep channels from a barrier reef 1-14km<br />
<strong>of</strong>fshore, which <strong>the</strong>n drops steeply to several hundred metres. The Sanganeb atoll is a<br />
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