coral reef conservation in qatar - panda
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Coral Reef Conservation Coral Reef Conservation in Qatarin Qatar
Dr. Mohamed Dr. Mohamed AlaaAlaa AbdelAbdel--MoatiMoatiSCENRSCENR-- State of QatarState of Qatar
EE--mail: mail: mamoati@qatarenv.org.qamamoati@qatarenv.org.qa
Land Area Land Area 11,437 Km211,437 Km2Marine Area Marine Area 35,000 Km235,000 Km2 =15% of the Gulf=15% of the GulfEastern Coast Eastern Coast 325 Km 325 Km Western Coast Western Coast 285 Km285 Km
BBothoth = 23% of the Gulf Coastline= 23% of the Gulf CoastlineAverage depth 30 m (Average depth 30 m (max: 60 m EEZmax: 60 m EEZ))Marine Area harbors Marine Area harbors >90%>90% of Development activitiesof Development activities
Marine Resources Marine Resources of Qatarof Qatar
Threats to Qatari Marine Threats to Qatari Marine ResourcesResources
TemperatureTemperature and and SalinitySalinity
27
29
31
33
35
37
39
07 08 09 10
Months
Tem
prat
ure
°C
1995 1996 1997 1998
August 2006August 2006
Echinoderms DiseasesEchinoderms Diseases
ManMan--Made threats to Qatari Marine Made threats to Qatari Marine EnvironmentEnvironment
Dredging Activities (turbidity, sedimentation)Dredging Activities (turbidity, sedimentation)
NDIANDIA
Qatar PearlQatar Pearl
Thermal Thermal EffluentsEffluents
PollutionPollution
Physical disturbancePhysical disturbance
OverfishingOverfishing
TourismTourism
Coral SurveysCoral SurveysSARC (ESC/ University of Qatar) survey.SARC (ESC/ University of Qatar) survey.Qatar Coral Monitoring Program (Qatar Coral Monitoring Program (QCMP)QCMP) (SCENR)(SCENR). .
The aim of 2004 survey was:The aim of 2004 survey was:
•• baseline assessment of coral reef status and healthbaseline assessment of coral reef status and health•• mapping the extent and location of coral reefs along Qatar EEZ mapping the extent and location of coral reefs along Qatar EEZ •• Measure the vulnerability of the resourcesMeasure the vulnerability of the resources•• monitoring of coral condition in fixed locationsmonitoring of coral condition in fixed locations•• rapid assessment of the status of reefrapid assessment of the status of reef--associated fauna, flora and fishassociated fauna, flora and fish•• development of firstdevelopment of first--level management suggestionslevel management suggestions•• produce a report that serve as a baseline for future, more detaiproduce a report that serve as a baseline for future, more detailed studyled study•• handshands--on training of SCENR staffon training of SCENR staff
The survey was executed by The survey was executed by SCENRSCENR / / National Coral Reef Institute at Nova National Coral Reef Institute at Nova Southeastern University in Florida (USA)/Southeastern University in Florida (USA)/ University of Qatar (ESC),University of Qatar (ESC), and and Qatari Coast GuardQatari Coast Guard..
NDIA ReefNDIA Reef
RAF ReefRAF Reef
NDIA and RAF ReefNDIA and RAF Reef
KhorKhor Al Al OdaidOdaid8 species of coral were alive:8 species of coral were alive:
Cyphastrea microphthalmaCyphastrea microphthalmaFavia sp. Platygyra lamellinaFavia sp. Platygyra lamellinaPlatygyraPlatygyra crosslandicrosslandi PoritesPorites harrisoniharrisoniPoritesPorites lutealutea CoscinareaCoscinarea monilemonileCoscinareaCoscinarea columnacolumna
Coscinarea monile
Platygyra crosslandi
HalulHalul IslandIsland16 species were encountered:16 species were encountered:
Acropora arabensisAcropora arabensisAcropora clathrataAcropora clathrataAcropora downingiAcropora downingiPlatygyra daedalea Platygyra daedalea Platygyra lamellinaPlatygyra lamellinaFavia favusFavia favusFavia speciosaFavia speciosaPavona decussataPavona decussataPsammocora haimeanaPsammocora haimeanaPorites luteaPorites luteaPorites solidaPorites solidaPorites harrisoniPorites harrisoniPorites nodiferaPorites nodiferaCyphastrea microphthalmaCyphastrea microphthalmaPlesiastrea versiporaPlesiastrea versiporaLeptastrea purpureaLeptastrea purpurea
Live Acropora arabensis and Favia pallida
Live Acropora clathrata probably settled in 1999
Acropora arabensis(2 yrs old)
App. 5-6 year old Acropora downingi
Porites harrisoni
Platygyra lamellina (foreground) andPorites harrisoni (directly behind)
Why Why HalulHalul Island presently has the Island presently has the best coral growth in Qatarbest coral growth in Qatar
1.1. Water DepthWater Depth: The island is situated near deep water (in excess of : The island is situated near deep water (in excess of 20m) reducing the potential stress by unusually heated seawater.20m) reducing the potential stress by unusually heated seawater.
2. 2. Stronger currentsStronger currents than mainland reefsthan mainland reefs
This has two effects: This has two effects:
FirstlyFirstly: the currents aid in the removal of toxic metabolites from cora: the currents aid in the removal of toxic metabolites from coral l tissues at the onset of potential bleaching events and may thus tissues at the onset of potential bleaching events and may thus aid in aid in avoiding lethal bleaching. avoiding lethal bleaching.
SecondlySecondly: the currents bring larvae from upstream seeding areas, : the currents bring larvae from upstream seeding areas, such as the Saudi Arabian offshore islands and, possibly, Iran.such as the Saudi Arabian offshore islands and, possibly, Iran.
Umm al Umm al ArshanArshan14 species in a single dive:14 species in a single dive:
Acropora clathrataAcropora clathrataCyphastrea microphthalmaCyphastrea microphthalmaPorites luteaPorites luteaPorites harrisoniPorites harrisoniPlesiastrea versiporaPlesiastrea versiporaSiderastrea sidereaSiderastrea sidereaCoscinarea monileCoscinarea monileCoscinarea columnaCoscinarea columnaPlatygyra lamellinaPlatygyra lamellinaFavia pallidaFavia pallidaTurbinaria reniformisTurbinaria reniformisPavonaPavona decussatadecussataPsammocoraPsammocora haimeanahaimeanaFavitesFavites pentagonapentagona
Mixed faviid:Turbinaria assemblage
Dense schools of Lutjanus snappers
Acropora downingi
““batterybattery”” for regeneration for regeneration
A large Platygyra lamellina ( not bleached)
Turbinaria peltata (right), next to Favia pallida
RasRas laffanlaffan9 species:9 species:
Cyphastrea microphthalmaCyphastrea microphthalmaPorites luteaPorites luteaPorites harrisoniPorites harrisoniPlesiastrea versiporaPlesiastrea versiporaSiderastrea sidereaSiderastrea sidereaCoscinarea monileCoscinarea monileCoscinarea columnaCoscinarea columnaPlatygyraPlatygyra lamellinalamellinaFaviaFavia pallidapallida
Dead Acropora skeleton in 3m of water
Porites harrisoniin 5m of water
Porites lutea on the Ras Laffan port breakwater
Survey ResultsSurvey ResultsLocationLocation Site visitedSite visited Live CoralsLive Corals
NDIANDIA 44 NoneNoneKhorKhor OdaidOdaid 33 88FashtFasht AlAl--GhabiGhabi 33 3+3+HalulHalul IslandIsland 44 1616--20*20*FashtFasht AlAl--DibalDibal 22 33FashtFasht AlAl--ArefAref 22 22FashtFasht AlAl--HediedHedied 22 11FashtFasht alal--BisheriahBisheriah 11 NoneNoneRasRas laffanlaffan 44 99Umm AlUmm Al--ArshanArshan 11 44ShruraShrura’’awaw 33 6**6**
* * PavonaPavona cactus only recodedcactus only recoded in this sitein this site ** 2005 ** 2005 binationalbinational cruisecruise
Surface area: 5 mSurface area: 5 m2 2
Weight: 250 kg Weight: 250 kg Height : 1 mHeight : 1 mBase Width : 95 cmBase Width : 95 cmCoarse Aggregate: 20 mm (Coarse Aggregate: 20 mm (GabbroGabbro))Fine Aggregate: Qatar Sand Treatment PlantFine Aggregate: Qatar Sand Treatment PlantHoles: Eight (2 on each side) (11cm Diameter) Top:30cmHoles: Eight (2 on each side) (11cm Diameter) Top:30cm
Artificial ReefArtificial Reef
1818thth August, 2003August, 2003
Sea Cucumbers are very common benthos on Reef Balls
1818thth August, 2003August, 2003
Rare Scarus sordidus Fish
Sea Urchins
Artificial ReefArtificial Reef
GuidelinesGuidelines
Regional Regional CooperationCooperation
SCENRSCENREADEAD
DOLPHINDOLPHINWWFWWFEWSEWSNCRINCRI
Coral Coral SettlementSettlement
Coral relocationCoral relocation
Introduction of viable adult Introduction of viable adult colonies into denuded areas in colonies into denuded areas in order to create new order to create new broodstockbroodstockfor local recruitment. for local recruitment. Breeding of corals in the Breeding of corals in the laboratory laboratory ““NubbinsNubbins””In areas of high coral density, if In areas of high coral density, if mass spawning occurs, coral mass spawning occurs, coral spawn slicks can be collected spawn slicks can be collected and moved to denuded areas, and moved to denuded areas, where the coral larvae are then where the coral larvae are then pumped onto the reef in the pumped onto the reef in the expectation that they will settle.expectation that they will settle.
AwarenessAwareness
Organization & legislationOrganization & legislation
Permanent Environmental Protection Permanent Environmental Protection committee committee 19811981Environment Department (MMAA) Environment Department (MMAA) 19941994SCENR SCENR 20002000
Kuwait Convention Kuwait Convention 19781978Law # 4 for 1983 and Law # 19 for 2003.Law # 4 for 1983 and Law # 19 for 2003.AmeriAmeri decree # 4 for 2002 (Islands are decree # 4 for 2002 (Islands are PAsPAs))Environment Law No. 30 for Environment Law No. 30 for 20022002Standards and Regulations Standards and Regulations 20052005
Suggestions for future Suggestions for future managementmanagement
Expand Expand PAsPAs of coral reefs and associated habitats of coral reefs and associated habitats Enforce law and regulations for the sake of coral conservationEnforce law and regulations for the sake of coral conservationCapacity building for effective managementCapacity building for effective managementStrengthen science (research & application) and monitoring progrStrengthen science (research & application) and monitoring programs.ams.Change conservation objectives Change conservation objectives –– e.g. from monitoring # species to e.g. from monitoring # species to functional redundancyfunctional redundancyIncrease awareness to sea visitors (educational, CDs, brochures,Increase awareness to sea visitors (educational, CDs, brochures,……))Informing the public of sustainable choices Informing the public of sustainable choices Launch Atlas for sensitive areas (expected 2/2007)Launch Atlas for sensitive areas (expected 2/2007)Strengthen database network and website on coralsStrengthen database network and website on coralsEnhance Enhance binationalbinational, regional and international cooperation. , regional and international cooperation. Proactive, responsive managementProactive, responsive managementEconomic valuation of the resource in order to set fines and Economic valuation of the resource in order to set fines and compensationscompensations
Thank YouThank You
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