Coral Reef Management Status in UAE

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UAE Country Profile
Surface area 83,600 km2 (Abu Dhabi 87 of
total). Coastline 650 km (Arabian Gulf) 90 km
(Gulf of Oman). Population 4.1 million (2005
census Economy GDP (2002) US 65.9 billion
(Oil and natural gas 33.9). Coastal
Habitats Salt pans, sand flats, coral reefs, sea
grass beds, mangroves, tidal inlets.
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UAE Coastal Characteristics
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UAE Oceanographic characteristics
Monthly seawater temperatures for the waters of
the UAE (2002).
Chlorophyll-a concentration in UAE waters during
February 2002 (SeaWiFS oceanographic satellite).
Arabian Gulf Salinity 40 - 44 ppt, temp 20.9
34.2 oC Gulf of Oman Salinity 35 37 ppt, temp
23.1 25.0 oC
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Natural constraints to coral reef development
(UAE-Arabian Gulf Waters)

• Extreme temperature range anomalies (10-15
  yrs).
• Extreme salinity range.
• Extensive areas of unconsolidated carbonate
  sediments.
• Scouring action by mobile sediments on limestone
  substrates.
• High levels of suspended sediment.

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Coral reef structure and developmentin UAE

• Arabian Gulf
• Poorly developed patch reefs dominated by
  Acropora and Porites (10 cover).
• Fringing reefs around off-shore islands dominated
  by mono-specific stands.
• Cycles of mortality, breakdown and re-growth
  inhibit framework accumulation.

• Gulf of Oman
• More favorable conditions for coral growth and
  reef development.
• Relatively clear water and less extreme
  temperature and salinity ranges.
• Greater species diversity, live coral cover and
  variety of growth forms.

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Species Diversity (Hermatypic Corals) in the UAE
Family
Family
Acroporidae (8)
Dendrophyllidae(2)
Acropora valida
Turbinaria pelata
Poritidae (6)
Pocilloporidae(1)
Porites lobata
Stylophora pistillata
Siderastreidae (4)
Mussidae (1)
Pseudosiderastrea tayami
Acanthastraea echinata
(Photos Charlie Veron)
Faviidae (12)
Total 36 species (Arabian Gulf waters)
Favites pentagona
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Distribution of coral reefs in the UAE
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Value and uses of coral reefs in the UAE

• Support fisheries.
• Provide recreational services eg. diving and
  snorkeling.
• Tourism (generation of foreign exchange).
• Storm surge and coastal erosion protection
  (off-shore islands).
• Critical habitats essential for the maintenance
  of biodiversity.
• Scientific value (especially given existence in
  an extreme environment).

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Monitoring and Assessment(1)
Jebel Ali Marine Sanctuary

• A coral reef monitoring program has been
  maintained in the Jebel Ali Marine Sanctuary
  since 1995 by the Dubai municipality.
• Techniques used include side-scan sonar, video
  mapping, remote sensing and acoustic seabed
  mapping. Survey area 37.7 km 2.
• Surveys have enabled the assessment of 2 coral
  bleaching episodes during 1996 and 1998.
• Concise maps have been produced for management
  planning and monitoring purposes.

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Monitoring and
Assessment(2) Marawah Marine Protected Area

• A synoptic survey of the Marawah MPA (5,561 km2)
  revealed the distribution and species composition
  of corals over a large area off the coast of the
  Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
• However, the survey was only implemented in order
  to establish areas of high conservation value as
  part of the initial effort to designate the MPA.

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Monitoring and Assessment(3)
Marine biotope monitoring off Abu Dhabi

• Natural History Museum of the UK carried out a
  monitoring program of marine biotopes in the
  waters off Abu Dhabi.
• Surveys covered 2 catastrophic bleaching events
  during 1996 and 1998 which were associated with
  prolonged positive seawater temperature
  anomalies.
• Surveys are no longer on-going.

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Monitoring and Assessment
(4) Marine macro-fauna surveys

• MERC of the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD)
  conducts aerial surveys for dugongs, turtles,
  dolphins and marine macro fauna in the waters of
  the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
• Whilst the survey is not specifically designed to
  monitor coral reefs it does record habitat type
  along transects, the categories used include
  seagrass, corals and sandy bottom.
• Additional data collected of relevance to reef
  monitoring includes the pressure on habitats
  (number of vessels, fishing nets observed, oil
  pollution and turbidity).

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Monitoring and Assessment
(5) Miscellaneous coral reef associated research
monitoring programs The Marine Environmental
Research Center of EAD implements the following
monitoring and assessment activities Fish
population dynamics Fisheries resource
assessment, catch and effort monitoring and
fisheries management (includes reef associated
species). Fishing gear investigations Developme
nt of escape panels to prevent 'ghost fishing'
and reduce the retention of juvenile
fish. Phytoplankton blooms Phytoplankton
monitoring in the coastal waters of Abu
Dhabi. Sea turtles Satellite tagging, nesting
surveys, rearing and release. Oceanography Coas
tal water circulation/drifter buoy study.
Marine Protected Areas MPAs management,
planning, surveillance and enforcement and
justification of other opportunities in marine
and coastal areas of Abu Dhabi Emirate. Coral
reef project
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Monitoring and Assessment
(6) CORAL REEF PROJECT
Title Coral Reef Investigation in the Emirate of
Abu Dhabi and the Eastern Cost of Qatar
Sponsor Dolphin Energy
Client / Coordinator Environment Agency Abu
Dhabi (EAD) and SCENR-Qatar
Management EWS-WWF Technical Investigator
NCRI-Florida-USA
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Project Goal
CORAL REEF PROJECT

• To develop and advance the conservation,
  management and sustainable use of coral reefs and
  associated habitats in the waters off the Emirate
  of Abu Dhabi and Qatar, through the provision of
  accurate biological, ecological and
  socio-economic information.

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Project Objectives

• Provide specific tailor made monitoring and
  assessment approaches to the unique env. of AD
• Map and assess the status of coral reef habitats
  in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and Qatar
• Investigate biodiversity of corals, and
  associated habitats / Spp.
• Establish baseline conditions for long term
  monitoring
• Ensure compatibility with int. initiatives of
  coral monitoring
• Evaluate alternative approaches to rehabilitation
• Develop capacity building of UAE/Qatari research
  personnel for long term monitoring
• Propose a conservation and management strategy
  for implementation by state authorities.

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Project Outputs

• Study of the distribution, status and threats to
  coral reefs within Abu Dhabi/Qatar
• Atlas and coral reef identification guide
• Coral reef conservation and management plan
• Solid scientific base for further development by
  EAD/SCENR
• Opportunities for media awareness campaigns
• Capacity building

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CORAL REEF PROJECT Training

• Field
• Ground truthing
• Coral reef identification

• Classroom
• Remote sensing
• Coral reef evolution and life forms

• Field
• Sediment sampling
• Cover

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CORAL REEF PROJECT
Results of Resource Assessment for Coral Reefs at
the Offshore Islands of Abu Dhabi
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Arzanah Island

• 51 sites evaluated, of which 11 showed coral
  growth.
• The densest coral growth was found on the western
  side of the islands. The coral community was in
  the very early phases of regeneration.
• Coral cover was between 1 and 5.
• Coral species encountered were
• Platygyra daedalea, Platygyra lamellina
• Favia pallida, Porites harrisoni
• Porites lutea, Cyphastrea microphthalma
• ? Psammocora. sp., Acropora clathrata (40 cm
  diameter)
• Corals are healthy and no diseases were observed.
  The relatively uniform size distribution of
  corals suggests that all originated from sexually
  produced gametes of an upstream source

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Das Island

• A total of 27 sites were evaluated, of which 5
  showed coral growth.
• The coral community was in the very early phases
  of regeneration.
• Coral cover was around 1.
• Coral species encountered were
• Platygyra lamellina , Favia pallida
• Porites harrisoni
• The few observed corals appeared to be of good
  health and no diseases were observed.
• The relatively uniform size distribution of
  corals suggests that all originated from sexually
  produced gametes of an upstream source.

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Diyenat Island

• 31 sites were evaluated, of which 17 showed coral
  growth.
• The coral community was in early phases of
  regeneration.
• Coral cover was around 1.
• Coral species encountered were
• Platygyra lamellina, Favia pallida
• Porites harrisoni, Porites lutea
• The observed corals are healthy and no diseases
  were observed.
• The relatively uniform size distribution of
  corals suggests that all originated from sexually
  produced gametes of an upstream source

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Qrnen Island

• 31 sites were evaluated, of which 17 showed coral
  growth.
• The coral community was in the very early phases
  of regeneration.
• Coral cover was between 1 and 5.
• Coral species encountered were
• Platygyra lamellina, Favia pallida
• Cyphastrea microphthalma, Turbinaria reniformis,
  Pseudosiderastrea tayamai, Plesiastrea versipora,
  Porites harrisoni, Porites lutea
• The observed corals are healthy - no diseases
  were observed.
• The relatively uniform size distribution of
  corals suggests that all originated from sexually
  produced gametes of an upstream source

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Zarkawh Island

• 2 sites were evaluated, of which 11 showed coral
  growth.
• The densest coral growth was found on the
  north-western side of the islands.
• The coral community was in the very early phases
  of regeneration.
• Coral cover was between 1 and a maximum of 5.
• Coral species encountered were
• Platygyra daedalea, Platygyra lamellina
• Favia pallida, Porites harrisoni
• Porites lutea, Cyphastrea microphthalma
• Acropora clathrata (small recruit)
• Corals were all healthy - no diseases were
  observed.
• The relatively uniform size distribution of
  corals suggests that all originated from sexually
  produced gametes of an upstream source

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Al Hil Island

• 6 sites were evaluated, all of which were
  situated within a dense coral biostrome and of
  which 3 showed coral growth.
• The coral community showed all the signs of
  serious mortality suffered during the previous
  thermal stress events
• Coral cover was between 1 and 5 and this was the
  sight with the strongest Acropora recruitment of
  all sites.
• Coral species encountered were
• Platygyra daedalea, Platygyra lamellina
• Favia pallida, Porites harrisoni
• Porites lutea, Cyphastrea microphthalma
• Acropora clathrata, Acropora arabensis
• Corals were all of good health and no diseases
  were observed

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Significance of findings

• Results show clear signs of the coral systems
  resilience in the face of what was likely the
  strongest disturbance of the century
• Despite three marked thermal anomalies and their
  associated coral mass mortality, the reefs are
  not dead and show very active signs of
  regeneration.
• So far, no extinctions have yet been identified,
  however, overall coral biodiversity still remains
  depressed and coral coverage of available
  substratum remains at record low levels.
• The observed corals bear clear evidence of a
  fertile upstream seeding population and active
  spread of sexual propagules throughout the
  region.
• There is no evidence for asexual increase in
  coral populations yet, largely because the
  colonies are still too small
• The active recruitment and reproduction indicates
  that remaining corals are good health. Thus,
  there is hope for a full recovery of the coral
  systems.

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Project Progress
Year 1 Percent completed Percent completed Percent completed Percent completed Percent completed Percent completed Percent completed Percent completed Percent completed Percent completed
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Large-scale map of entire area                  
Image classification                  
Field trips                    
Assess potential for recovery                    
Publish and circulate results
Production of draft training manuals                    
Choose trainees                    
Year 2 Percent completed Percent completed Percent completed Percent completed Percent completed Percent completed Percent completed Percent completed Percent completed Percent completed
Fine-scale map of selected areas          
Groundtruthing of image                
Field trips          
Assess potential for recovery          
Publish and circulate results          
Finalization of training manuals          
Continuation of training          
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Institutional Framework for Coral Reef
Conservation in UAE
Federal Government Local (Emirate) Government Non-Governmental International
Ministry of Environment and Water Environment Agency Abu Dhabi Oil Companies eg. ADNOC, ADCO, Dolphin, etc Gulf Co-operative Council (GCC)
Federal Environment Agency Environment Agency Abu Dhabi UAE University Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine Environment (ROPME)
National Coastguard and Marine Police Municipalities eg. the Marine Environment and Sanctuaries Unit of Dubai Municipality Emirates Wildlife Society (EWS) Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine Environment (ROPME)
Municipalities eg. the Marine Environment and Sanctuaries Unit of Dubai Municipality Emirates Diving Association United Nations (IOC/UNEP/UNDP/UNESCO)
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Conservation and Management Initiatives for Coral
Reef Conservation in UAE
Federal Laws eg. no. 23, 1999 on the
Exploitation, Protection and Development of
Living Aquatic Resources in the UAE. Federal
Law no. 24 for the Protection and Development of
the Environment. Decrees eg. Decree no. 1 of
June 1995 demarcating coral reef areas on the
East Coast for protection. International
Conventions CITES, CBD etc. Management Action
Plans Regional Regional Action Plan for the
Conservation of Coral Reefs in the Arabian Seas
Region (ROPME Sea Area) Kuwait Action
Plan National eg. Environmental Strategy and
Action Plans for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
(EAD). Marawah Marine Protected Area
Management Plan.
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Conservation and Management InitiativesMPAs
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Threats Management Issues
Bleaching Coral mortality (up to 98) following
bleaching events associated with increases in the
frequency and prolongation of positive seawater
temperature anomalies. Note diversity in the
Jebel Ali Wildlife Sanctuary reduced from 34 to
27 species following the 1996 bleaching event.
Crown of Thorns periodically abundant on East
Coast reefs where they have caused extensive
damage. Disease Yellow-band, Black-band and
white band diseases present and prevalence maybe
increased by anthropogenic stressors.
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Threats Management Issues
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Threats Management Issues
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Threats Management Issues
Effects of fishing eg. by-catch
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Conclusions

• The coral reefs of the UAE have cultural,
  economic and scientific value.
• Threats are primarily derived from positive
  seawater temperature anomalies, hyper-saline and
  thermal cooling water discharges, dredging and
  landfill, urban refuse and the effects of
  fishing.
• 3. Coral reef monitoring activities in the UAE
  started in 1995. Monitoring has relied on
  international expertise highlighting the need for
  national capacity building.
• There are a variety of conservation and
  management initiatives being implemented by NGOs
  as well as local/federal government institutions
  and international organizations. (Legislation,
  strategic action plans, MPAs, education and
  awareness campaigns etc.)

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Acknowledgement Bernhard Riegl and Samuel Purkis
(NCRI, Florida) Thabit Zahran, Suad Al Harthi,
Mohamed Jassim, Hamad Al Mazroei, (EAD, UAE)
Nasser AL Shaiba (EHS,Dubai Ports) EWS-WWF Dolphi
n Energy