90pc coral reefs on the verge of death
Manama : Dredging and reclamation activities have killed over ninety percent of Bahrain’s coral reef, researchers have found.
A two-year study conducted by Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage in collaboration with Supreme Council for Environment found 16 species to be ‘threatened’ at a national level and two ‘near threatened’.
Speaking to DT News, Haifaa Abdulhalim, a senior official from the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage said that Bahrain’s marine and freshwater species are facing serious threats and are on the verge of extinction.
“This study gives us an indicator where we should direct our efforts and what we need to do. It also gives us clarity about the level of threats that the species face. We have six species that are critically endangered and all of them are marine species. This tells us that we should do more to protect the them.”
“Based on the report recommendations, actions could be taken such as establishment of protection areas. Bahrain already has many legislations for protecting endangered species but now perhaps these legislation could be enforced better and maybe create new guidelines,” she said adding that more attention needs to be given to the marine species than land as it is more threatened.
She also stated that the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage will work closely with Supreme Council for Environment to help with the implementations of the recommendations from the report.
“We have a strong partnership with the Supreme Council for Environment. We meet periodically to discuss how we can protect endangered species as well as address other environmental issues.”
Details of the threatened species in Bahrain were documented in the report ‘The First Regional Red List Assessment of Selected Species in the Kingdom of Bahrain’.
The report was launched at an event at Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage premises yesterday.
“This species is under continual threats from anthropogenic pressures, mostly continuous dredging and reclamation activities which result in the slit and sediment accumulation that smother coral species,”the report stated.
“Moreover, the future potential impacts of climate change and ocean acidification need to kept in sight when assessing this species since it is clear that events such as sea temperature rise have caused bleaching, resulting in loss.”
The report also acknowledge the conservation efforts undertaken by Bahrain.
“Efforts are being made to conserve coral reef ecosystems in Bahrain by establishing marine protected areas and through various management actions ranging from fishing gear management, coral propagation programmes and establishment of artificial coral reef systems,” the report says.
The other species that are threatened include Green Sawfish (Critically endangered), Hawksbill Turtle (Critically endangered), Finless porpoise (Vulnerable), Sea cow (Vulnerable) and Socotra Cormorant (Vulnerable).
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