‘Sixteen varieties of marine habitats unique to Bahrain’

TDT | Manama                                                   

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Staff Reporter

Sixteen varieties of marine habitats exist in Bahrain on the basis of latest marine habitat mapping, according to a leading researcher.

The significance of marine habitats in attaining ecological balance is being highlighted by Dr Humood A Naser through his study titled ‘Management of Marine Protected Zones - Case Study of Bahrain, Arabian Gulf’.

“The marine habitats in the Kingdom include algae, coral, seagrass, sand, mud, rock, mangrove, salt marsh, sabkha, rock and sand, coral-rock-sand, algae-rock-sand, mud and sand, mixed habitats, deep water mud, and deep water mixed habitats,” he says in the study.

“And among them, mudflats are among the most productive marine habitats that contribute significantly to the marine productivity in Bahrain. These habitats typically harbour large numbers of wintering and migratory shorebirds.

“Mudflats in Bahrain are represented by low-energy areas on the northern and eastern coasts of Bahrain, as well as patches of sheltered lagoons within Hawar Islands.”

The researcher observed that mangrove habitats are also of highest significance as they provide food, shelter and nursery areas for a variety of terrestrial and marine fauna.

“Natural mangrove plants, which are represented by a single species, Avicennia Marina, can be found only in Tubli Bay. The largest aggregation of mangroves is confined to Ras-Sanad Lagoon, which is the most sheltered area on the coast of Bahrain.”

The lagoon is endowed with the characteristics that support the growth of mangrove plants and they include minimal motion of the water, muddy nature of the substrate, and an input of low salinity water from nearby farms and underground springs.

Coral habitats are mainly restricted to the north and east of Bahrain. The researcher says live coral cover in Bahrain is generally low, ranging from 5 to 16 per cent and this could be attributed to the massive bleaching events that occurred in the Arabian Gulf in the summers of 1996 and 1998. “Bahrain was the worst affected by these events with an estimated overall loss of 97pc of live corals.” 

Bleaching is a process in which corals expel the algae living in their tissues causing the coral to turn completely white when the water is too warm. 

The majority of the seagrass habitats in Bahrain waters are located in the eastern subtidal areas, mainly from south of Fasht Al Adhm to Hawar Islands.

The coastal and marine environments in the Kingdom support some of the most endangered species such as dugongs and turtles. These ecosystems maintain genetic and biological diversity and contribute to food security for the region.

As of now, there are five designated natural marine protected areas in the Kingdom; Hawar Islands, Tubli Bay, Mashtan Island, Duwhat Arad, and Fasht Bulthama.