Status of Coral Reefs of the World 2000

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Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2000 of waste disposal facilities at major ports, monitoring on the high seas for pollution discharges, and through coordinated efforts to improve shipping navigation aids. Solid waste cleanup projects need to be organised to remove accumulated debris from the reefs, and public education campaigns would help increase understanding of the importance of coral reefs and their sensitivity to damage and pollution. There is also a need to develop and expand local capacity for monitoring and research on coral reefs, in connection with the designation of Marine Protected Areas as part of broader multisectoral integrated management plans. The major organisation assisting countries with coral reef conservation is the Regional Organisation for the Protection of the Marine Environment (ROPME), which refers to this region as the ‘inner ROPME Sea Area’, shortened to RSA. INTRODUCTION The Arabian/Persian Gulf (the Gulf) and Sea contain complex and unique tropical marine ecosystems, especially coral reefs, with relatively low biological diversity and many endemic species. The reefs are surrounded by some of the driest coastlines in the world, such that continental influences are limited. In addition these waters are also major shipping lanes due to petroleum industries, with a high-risk bottleneck at the narrow straits of Hormuz. 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 region’s coastal and marine environment. The Arabian Sea is subject to seasonal cold water upwellings due to the Indian Ocean monsoon system, which creates large temperature differences between seasons. This is reflected in the nature and distribution of coral communities. The Gulf is a semi-enclosed shallow continental sea measuring 1000km in length and varying in width from a maximum of 340 to 60km (at the Straits of Hormuz). These narrow straits restrict water exchange with the Arabian Sea, which means the waters become highly saline because of high evaporation and low inputs of fresh water. The Gulf is also subject to wide climatic fluctuations, with water temperatures ranging from 10 to 40 o C and salinity from 28-60ppt. The coupling of seawater temperatures and salinity show some of the widest fluctuations recorded anywhere in the world, which would kill most reef-building corals elsewhere. Thus, corals growing in the Gulf have become adapted to survive the especially harsh conditions. This was thought to be the norm with temperature extremes until the major bleaching events in 1996 and 1998, which virtually obliterated all inshore reefs and badly depleted many of those offshore. The overall reef biodiversity of reefs in the Gulf is relatively impoverished compared to the Indian Ocean, with the exception of fish species. Further north there are fringing hard corals along the Iranian side of the Gulf and around the most of the islands, from Saudi Arabia across to Iran. The average depth is about 35m and maximum is 100m. The southern Gulf is characterised by shallow pre- Cretaceous limestone, sandstone or ‘fasht’ which is frequently insufficient to result in significant reef accretion. 56
Status of Coral Reefs in the Arabian/Persian Gulf GEOGRAPHICAL REEF COVERAGE AND EXTENT Bahrain Coral reefs in Bahrain are limited to a few areas. These include: Fasht Al Adhom, north Jabari, west Fasht Al Dibal, Khwar Fasht, Fasht Al Jarim, Samahij, and Abul Thama. Coral colonies are present in other areas such as Hayr Shutaya, but these are isolated colonies, not coral reefs. Iran The best-developed reefs on the Iranian coasts are found around Khark and Kharku islands in the far north and the southern islands from Lavan to Hormuz islands. Fringing reefs are the predominant reef structure on the Iranian coasts. Kuwait Coral reefs are largely restricted to the southern area and include a range of offshore platform and smaller patch reefs, and nearshore patch and fringing reef assemblages along the southern coastline. All are in shallow water (
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FOREWORD Over the past few years, I
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CONTENTS COUNTRIES, STATES AND TERR
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COUNTRIES, STATES AND TERRITORIES A
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Countries, States and Territories T
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Page 19 and 20: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY CLIVE WILKINSON T
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Status of Coral Reefs in South Asia
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8. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS OF EAST AN
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Status of Coral Reefs of East and N
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9. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS OF AUSTRAL
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Status of Coral Reefs of Australasi
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10. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN THE SO
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Status of Coral Reefs in the Southw
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11. STATUS OF SOUTHEAST AND CENTRAL
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Status of Southeast and Central Pac
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12. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS OF AMERIC
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Status of Coral Reefs of American S
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15. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN THE NO
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Status of Coral Reefs in the Northe
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17. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN THE EA
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Status of Coral Reefs in the Easter
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18. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN SOUTHE
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Status of Coral Reefs in Southern T
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19. SPONSORING ORGANISATIONS, CORAL
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Sponsoring Organisations, Coral Ree
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LIST OF ACRONYMS AGRRA AIMS ASEAN B
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Status of Coral Reefs of the World 2000

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