Status of Coral Reefs of the World 2000

Regional Status of Coral Reefs in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden
Plages (Gulf of Tadjourah). At 26 sites coral cover was greater than 50%, and during swims
along the reef edge, the percentage of living coral ranged from 5-70%, and exceeded 20%
in all but 3 places.
Egypt
The reefs in southern Egypt are more diverse than those in the north, with nearly double the
number of coral species. The distribution and development of reef-building corals is
restricted in the Gulf of Suez by several factors, including temperature, sediment load,
salinity and light penetration. During 1997 to 1999 three different, but coordinated,
projects conducted surveys from approximately 130 reef sites between 1997 and 1999
from Hurghada to Shakateen (and more detailed studies to assess diving impacts at 11 sites
near Hurghada). These have been summarised by respectively in reports by the: Egyptian
Red Sea Coastal and Marine Resources Management Project; the Ecological Sustainable
Tourism Project and the Coral Reef Biodiversity Project. Rapid Environmental Asssessments
(REAs) have been made at 48 frequently visited dive sites as part of the Environmentally
Sustainable Tourism Project. Collectively the results from the above surveys indicate there
was 55% coral cover in non-sheltered areas, and 85% in sheltered areas. Live coral cover
generally ranged from 11 to 35% on the reef flats, with the highest cover on reef walls (12-85%)
and reef slopes (5-62%). Live coral cover was highly variable along the coast, with the
highest being on reef walls and the leading edges of the reefs. A decline of 20-30% in coral
cover has been recorded at most sites, and this corresponds with increases in the cover of
recently dead coral, and crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) outbreaks.
Jordan
Current research is focused on coral communities near the fertiliser industries but extends
along the entire coastline to monitor biological and physical characteristics including
currents, temperature, and nutrient levels. The Gulf of Aqaba is among the most diverse
high latitude reefs in the world, with 158 species in 51 genera. The more tolerant and
opportunistic Stylophora pistillata now dominates and replaces other corals, modifying the
structure of the reefs. Recent surveys at 15 sites indicated the reefs were in good condition
with over 90% hard coral cover, although it is unknown what proportion of this was alive.
Saudi Arabia
Coral reef habitats were assessed between 1997 and 1999 in the central-northern Red
Sea, from to Haql in the Gulf of Aqaba, to Jeddah to produce detailed inventories for
corals, fish, other benthos, algae, seagrasses, marine mammals, turtles, coastal vegetation
and birds. These were combined with socioeconomic assessments of human use and
detailed aerial photos and satellite image mapping to define key reef areas for
conservation within MPAs. In the Farasan Islands Marine Protected Area (FIMPA), live
coral, dead coral, and the coral predators (crown-of-thorns starfish and Drupella snails)
were assessed in 1999. At least 260 species of hard corals have been identified from Red
Sea waters, including 26 species not previously described and about 50 species as new
records for the Red Sea. The predominant families were Acroporidae, Faviidae and
Poritidae. Reefs also contained a diverse mix of soft corals, hydrozoan fire corals,
gorgonians, corallimorphs and zoanthids. Hard coral species diversity ranged from 20-100
at different sites in the central to northern Red Sea, with a high degree of homogeneity in
each coral community. Reefs with moderate to high species diversity and abundance
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