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