Coral Reef Conservation

in Qatar
Dr. Mohamed Alaa Abdel-Moati
SCENR- State of Qatar
E-mail: mamoati@qatarenv.org.qa
Land Area 11,437 Km2
Marine Area 35,000 Km2 =15% of the Gulf
Eastern Coast 325 Km
Western Coast 285 Km
Both = 23% of the Gulf Coastline
Average depth 30 m (max: 60 m EEZ)
Marine Area harbors >90% of Development activities
Marine Resources
of Qatar
 Threats to Qatari Marine
Resources
Temperature and Salinity
39

37
Temprature °C

35

33

31

29

27
07 08 09 10
Months

1995 1996 1997 1998

August 2006
Echinoderms Diseases
Man-Made threats to Qatari Marine
Environment
¾ Dredging Activities (turbidity, sedimentation)

Qatar Pearl

NDIA
Thermal
Effluents
Pollution
Physical disturbance
Overfishing
Tourism
 Coral Surveys
¾ SARC (ESC/ University of Qatar) survey.
¾ Qatar Coral Monitoring Program (QCMP) (SCENR).

The aim of 2004 survey was:

• baseline assessment of coral reef status and health

• mapping the extent and location of coral reefs along Qatar EEZ
• Measure the vulnerability of the resources
• monitoring of coral condition in fixed locations
• rapid assessment of the status of reef-associated fauna, flora and fish
• development of first-level management suggestions
• produce a report that serve as a baseline for future, more detailed study
• hands-on training of SCENR staff

¾ The survey was executed by SCENR / National Coral Reef Institute at Nova
Southeastern University in Florida (USA)/ University of Qatar (ESC), and
Qatari Coast Guard.
 NDIA and RAF Reef
NDIA Reef

RAF Reef
 Khor Al Odaid
8 species of coral were alive:
¾ Cyphastrea microphthalma
¾ Favia sp. Platygyra lamellina
¾ Platygyra crosslandi Porites harrisoni
¾ Porites lutea Coscinarea monile
¾ Coscinarea columna

Platygyra crosslandi

Coscinarea monile
 Live Acropora arabensis and Favia pallida
Halul Island
16 species were encountered:
¾ Acropora arabensis
¾ Acropora clathrata
¾ Acropora downingi
¾ Platygyra daedalea
¾ Platygyra lamellina
¾ Favia favus
¾ Favia speciosa
¾ Pavona decussata
¾ Psammocora haimeana Acropora arabensis
¾ Porites lutea (2 yrs old)
¾ Porites solida
¾ Porites harrisoni
¾ Porites nodifera
¾ Cyphastrea microphthalma
¾ Plesiastrea versipora
¾ Leptastrea purpurea

Live Acropora clathrata probably settled in 1999

 App. 5-6 year old Acropora downingi

Porites harrisoni

Platygyra lamellina (foreground) and

Porites harrisoni (directly behind)
Why Halul Island presently has the
best coral growth in Qatar

1. Water Depth: The island is situated near deep water (in excess of
20m) reducing the potential stress by unusually heated seawater.

2. Stronger currents than mainland reefs

This has two effects:

Firstly: the currents aid in the removal of toxic metabolites from coral
tissues at the onset of potential bleaching events and may thus aid in
avoiding lethal bleaching.

Secondly: the currents bring larvae from upstream seeding areas,

such as the Saudi Arabian offshore islands and, possibly, Iran.
Umm al Arshan
14 species in a single dive:
¾ Acropora clathrata
¾ Cyphastrea microphthalma
¾ Porites lutea
¾ Porites harrisoni Mixed faviid:Turbinaria assemblage
¾ Plesiastrea versipora
¾ Siderastrea siderea
¾ Coscinarea monile
¾ Coscinarea columna
¾ Platygyra lamellina
¾ Favia pallida
¾ Turbinaria reniformis
¾ Pavona decussata
¾ Psammocora haimeana
¾ Favites pentagona Acropora downingi

Dense schools of Lutjanus snappers

 “battery” for regeneration

A large Platygyra lamellina ( not bleached)

Turbinaria peltata (right), next to Favia pallida

 Dead Acropora skeleton in 3m of water
Ras laffan
9 species:
¾ Cyphastrea microphthalma
¾ Porites lutea
¾ Porites harrisoni
Porites harrisoni
¾ Plesiastrea versipora in 5m of water
¾ Siderastrea siderea
¾ Coscinarea monile
¾ Coscinarea columna
¾ Platygyra lamellina
¾ Favia pallida

Porites lutea on the Ras Laffan port breakwater

 Survey Results
Location Site visited Live Corals
¾ NDIA 4 None
¾ Khor Odaid 3 8
¾ Fasht Al-Ghabi 3 3+
¾ Halul Island 4 16-20*
¾ Fasht Al-Dibal 2 3
¾ Fasht Al-Aref 2 2
¾ Fasht Al-Hedied 2 1
¾ Fasht al-Bisheriah 1 None
¾ Ras laffan 4 9
¾ Umm Al-Arshan 1 4
¾ Shrura’aw 3 6**
* Pavona cactus only recoded in this site ** 2005 binational cruise
 Artificial Reef

¾ Surface area: 5 m2
¾ Weight: 250 kg
¾ Height : 1 m
¾ Base Width : 95 cm
¾ Coarse Aggregate: 20 mm (Gabbro)
¾ Fine Aggregate: Qatar Sand Treatment Plant
¾ Holes: Eight (2 on each side) (11cm Diameter) Top:30cm
 18th August, 2003

Sea Cucumbers are very common

benthos on Reef Balls
Rare Scarus sordidus Fish

Sea Urchins 18th August, 2003

 Artificial Reef

Guidelines
 Regional
Cooperation
 SCENR
EAD
DOLPHIN
WWF
EWS
NCRI
 Coral
Settlement
 Coral relocation
¾ Introduction of viable adult
colonies into denuded areas in
order to create new broodstock
for local recruitment.
¾ Breeding of corals in the
laboratory “Nubbins”
¾ In areas of high coral density, if
mass spawning occurs, coral
spawn slicks can be collected
and moved to denuded areas,
where the coral larvae are then
pumped onto the reef in the
expectation that they will settle.
Awareness
 Organization & legislation

¾ Permanent Environmental Protection

committee 1981
¾ Environment Department (MMAA) 1994
¾ SCENR 2000

¾ Kuwait Convention 1978

¾ Law # 4 for 1983 and Law # 19 for 2003.
¾ Ameri decree # 4 for 2002 (Islands are PAs)
¾ Environment Law No. 30 for 2002
¾ Standards and Regulations 2005
 Suggestions for future
management
¾ Expand PAs of coral reefs and associated habitats
¾ Enforce law and regulations for the sake of coral conservation
¾ Capacity building for effective management
¾ Strengthen science (research & application) and monitoring programs.
¾ Change conservation objectives – e.g. from monitoring # species to
functional redundancy
¾ Increase awareness to sea visitors (educational, CDs, brochures,…)
¾ Informing the public of sustainable choices
¾ Launch Atlas for sensitive areas (expected 2/2007)
¾ Strengthen database network and website on corals
¾ Enhance binational, regional and international cooperation.
¾ Proactive, responsive management
¾ Economic valuation of the resource in order to set fines and
compensations
Thank You