Marine Atlas of the Saudi Arabian Waters of the Arabian Gulf · 10 Marine Atlas of the Saudi Arabian Waters of the Arabian Gulf Plate 1.1 Karan Island. CHAPTER 1__FINAL_4JUNE2011_VERONA.indd

10 M a r i n e A t l a s o f t h e S a u d i A r a b i a n W a t e r s o f t h e A r a b i a n G u l f

Plate 1.1 Karan Island.

CHAPTER 1__FINAL_4JUNE2011_VERONA.indd 10CHAPTER 1__FINAL_4JUNE2011_VERONA.indd 10 19/07/12 14:1219/07/12 14:12

Ronald A. Loughland and Khaled A. Al-Abdulkader

Environmental Protection Department, Saudi Aramco

Introduction


12 M a r i n e A t l a s o f t h e W e s t e r n A r a b i a n G u l f

Th e Marine Atlas of the Saudi Arabian Waters of the Arabian Gulf provides details on the marine and coastal habitats of the Saudi Arabian Gulf waters, which extend from Al Khafj i at the Kuwait border in the north, south to Ras Abu Qamees at the border of the United Arab Emirates a distance of over 560 km comprising approximately 1,900 km of coastline (including islands).

Th e major goals of this Marine Atlas are the protection of natural marine and coastal resources and increasing environmental knowledge and awareness within the community.

Th is Marine Atlas is a fi rst for the Kingdom and provides a baseline on which to determine changes in the marine environment over time. Th is is particularly important because the Gulf’s habitats are under increasing development pressure, and protection of its natural resources is important for the well-being of the citizens of the region.

Traditionally the marine waters of the Gulf sustained the inhabitants along its coast, with pearling, trading and fi shing being major economic activities. Today the Gulf waters provide energy to the world in the form of oil and gas. As a result, these same waters are some of the busiest shipping routes in the world, with an estimated 3,500 oil and gas tankers visiting Saudi Arabia and Kuwait each year. Combined with escalating coastal and industrial development in the region, there is an increased possibility of serious marine pollution. Th e same marine waters are also the source of food, and through desalination, provide most of the drinking water to the region.

Most countries only realize that they have depleted their marine resources when their fi sheries collapse, and by that time it’s oft en too late to repair the damage. Th e development of this Marine Atlas is therefore a signifi cant and timely step towards sustainable utilization of the Kingdom’s marine resources, because identifying the location, and mapping the extent of the marine resources is the fi rst fundamental management requirement for their conservation.

For many decades Saudi Aramco has been operating in the Gulf, and during that time has pursued research in the marine environment. Much of this important research has now been used in the compilation of this Atlas, and is presented in an attractive and easy to comprehend format for use by planners, managers and the general public. Th e Atlas is an important environmental management tool that will assist in achieving sustainable development in the Gulf.

Th is Marine Atlas of the Western Arabian Gulf has been developed by the Environmental Protection Department of Saudi Aramco over three years with input from national, regional and international scientists and technical experts.

Plate 1.2 The Oil Industry are major stake-holders in the Western Gulf.


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Th e Atlas provides the reader with a spatial and temporal journey throughout the marine ecosystems of the Arabian Gulf. Th e journey commences at Chapter Two with an overview of the coastal and marine areas and the associated habitats. In this Chapter the reader is provided with a background on the prevailing environmental conditions of the Gulf where shallow waters and arid climatic conditions result in water temperature and salinity extremes that are the principal factors that infl uence the marine environment and its biodiversity.

In the following Chapters, the reader ventures back in history to examine the relationship of humans with the Gulf, particularly their utilization of its marine resources, and the eff ect the marine environment has had on the overall development of the “Gulf Culture.” In Chapter Th ree the reader learns that the Arabian Gulf has not always been as it appears today, and within relatively recent geological times (Pleistocene 1.8 million to 12,000 ybp), the Gulf was nearly emptied by approximately a 120 m drop in sea level. Th e present sea bed sediments were formed by the erosion action of rivers that fl owed into and through the Gulf basin during lower water levels. Th e basin refi lled when the sea level rose as the continental ice melted at the end of the Pleistocene, initially fl ooding greater areas than the current marine boundaries of the present day Gulf waters, with evidence of coral reefs and mangrove growth being found above present day sea levels. Th e Gulf waters eventually receded to their current levels resulting in the present day topography of the coastline. Th ese changes in the Gulf are recorded in human history and this Chapter provides more detail on the human response to the sea level fl uctuations.

Plate 1.3 There is a rich history of human settlement along the Gulf.

Plate 1.4 Mangrove habitats are important ecosystems in the Gulf (Photograph by Authors).



Continuing the journey, starting at the upper limit of the intertidal zone, Chapter Four describes the importance of salt marsh habitats as the interface between the terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Th e reader then enters deeper within the marine world, an area regularly dominated by the rhythmic cycles of the tides, where frequent fl ushing provides rich feeding habitats for marine species and supports valuable coastal habitats, such as mangrove. Mangroves are fundamental to healthy fi sh and shrimp populations as they provide both nursery shelter and food in the form of detritus for fi sheries. In the Arabian Gulf only one species of mangrove exists (Avicennia marina) and this habitat has been reduced by 90% in the last four decades as a result of landfi ll and coastal development.

Th e Atlas then plunges a little deeper into the subtidal realm where Chapter Five describes the extensive sandy and/or muddy benthic communities that are oft en associated with meadows of seagrass and algae. Th ese sunlit shallow areas are the power house of productivity in the Gulf, providing substantial biomass to nourish the entire marine ecosystem. Unfortunately, dredging and reclamation projects have altered or destroyed portions of these valuable habitats.

Further off shore in deeper waters where water temperature fl uctuation is less, grows a myriad of corals both as outcrops and as part of complex reef systems. Th ese corals provide much needed habitat structure to the marine environment and have been referred to as the “apartment blocks of the sea.” Th e coral reefs are centres of biodiversity in the Gulf, with many diff erent species depending on them for food and shelter. Corals have been impacted globally as a result of periodic increases in sea surface temperatures and human related impacts including physical destruction (i.e., dredging, anchor damage, fi sh nets and diving).

Plate 1.5 Coastal wetlands are major migratory bird habitats.

Plate 1.6 Offshore Islands are valuable nesting sites for marine birds (Photograph by Authors).


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Th e larger of these reefs oft en form beautiful coral islands that are described in Chapter Six. Th ese islands support signifi cant numbers of nesting marine turtles and birds. Th e complex coral reefs surrounding the islands are a source of food for the nesting wildlife, supporting diverse marine plants and animals including large schools of fi sh. Th ese islands and their surrounding reefs and subtidal habitats are in urgent need of protection as they are the last stronghold of marine biodiversity in the Arabian Gulf waters of the Kingdom. Th eir disturbance would have signifi cant ecological impact at a global scale, because they are important to the long-term survival of internationally endangered species.

Th e rich fi sh resources of the Gulf and the associated fi shing industry are described in Chapter Seven. Th is Chapter illustrates the major threats to fi sheries and the need for management of the fi shing industry. Overfi shing and the loss of fi sh habitats, particularly intertidal and shallow water habitats has clear links with declining fi sh landings.

Th e marine resources also support larger wildlife, such as marine mammals including large populations of dugong (sea cow), that feed exclusively on seagrass. Chapter Eight describes the distribution and ecology of marine mammals and covers all the species of dolphin, porpoise and whales living in the coastal waters of the Arabian Gulf. Th ese animals are threatened from human activities with destruction of habitat, drowning in fi shing nets and boat collisions being the main conservation issues.

In Chapter Nine, the ecology of marine and coastal reptiles such as sea snakes and turtles is described. Marine turtles nest on the off shore islands and forage in the nearby subtidal habitats. Turtles once also nested along the mainland coast of the Gulf. However, due to human disturbance they have not nested there for over 30 years.

Plate 1.7 Subtidal habitats such as corals are important for biodiversity.

Plate 1.8 Corals provide shelter for marine organisms.


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Plate 1.9 Underwater realm of the western Gulf.


Th e same off shore islands are internationally important nesting sites for marine birds and each spring/summer many thousands nest on the islands. Th e surrounding rich subtidal habitats support these large populations and have allowed successive generations of birds to raise their chicks on these islands for thousands of years. Chapter 10 describes the bird fauna of the Eastern Province and details the most important habitat areas for both resident and migratory species.

Environmental impacts along the Arabian Gulf coast identifi ed from remote sensing over a period of 40 years are presented in Chapter 11. A summary of the main fi ndings of the Atlas are also presented. Recommendations on actions required to safeguard the remaining important habitats, wildlife, fi sheries and associated ecosystem services are provided.

Plate 1.10 Thousands of marine birds nest each spring on the Offshore Islands of the Gulf.

Plate 1.11 Rocky shore habitats: Ras Abu Qamees.


Map 1.1 Map of the Western Arabian Gulf coast of Saudi Arabia.


Marine Atlas of the Saudi Arabian Waters of the Arabian Gulf · 10 Marine Atlas of the Saudi Arabian Waters of the Arabian Gulf Plate 1.1 Karan Island. CHAPTER 1__FINAL_4JUNE2011_VERONA.indd

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