Transcript Conservation of coral reefs in Kuwait

Conservation of Coral Reefs in
Kuwait
By
Adel H. Alsaffar
Hani Al-Tamimi
Mariculture and Fisheries Department
Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research
[email protected]
Living Resources Department
Environment Public Authority
[email protected]
Arabian Gulf Marin Conservation Forum
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
11-14 September 2006
Coral Reefs in Kuwait
are found:
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Associated with the
Coral Islands (Kubbar,
Qaro and Um AlMaradem)
As Patch and platform
reefs
Kubbar Island and surrounding Reef
Terns breeding at Kubbar Island
Qaro Island and surrounding Reef
Umm Al-Maradem Island
and surrounding Reef
Patch and Platform Reefs
Coral Species
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A total of 35 coral species have been recorded
in Kuwait reefs. Of these, 29 species are
hermatypic (reef- building corals), and 6 species
are ahermatypic (non-reef building) corals.
Fish Species Associated with Coral Reefs
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124 fish species were recorded in the coral
reef communities, about 35 percent of the
total number of fish species (337 species)
recorded in Kuwait.
Conservation Themes

Legislation Applicable to the Conservation of
Coral Reefs,
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Research, Monitoring and Documentation,
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Education and Public awareness,
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Practical Conservation of Coral Reefs.
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Legislations Applicable to the Conservation of Coral reefs
Law No. 21 of 1995 & Law No. 16 of 1996 about establishing
the “Environment Public Authority (EPA)”:
With regard to Coral Islands and Coral Reefs:
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Objectives:
• To develop coral islands and exploit them as natural
reserves, recreational facilities and as a fish resource.
• To conserve the coral reefs around coral islands and
submerged reefs and declare them as protected areas
and to conserve fish breeding sites.
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Legislations Applicable to the Conservation of Coral reefs
With regard to Coral Islands and Coral Reefs (cont.):
●
Policies and Procedures:
• Utilising available expertise in the regional and
international levels in selecting and management of
marine protected areas,
• Providing trained personnel and management facilities,
• Applying the legislations concerning such reserves and
monitoring visitors conduct,
• Promoting public awareness on the importance of the
marine reserves and ways of utilising them, and establish
economic, social and environmental indicators to be used
for determining the success of the protection program.

Legislations Applicable to the Conservation of Coral reefs
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Decision No. 210 / 2001, regarding the executive law of the
establishment of EPA, states in article (81)that:
•
It is prohibited to hunt, kill, catch, gather or harm all
marine and terrestrial wildlife species or to temper with its
young, eggs, nests or refuges to the duration of two years
starting at the date of issuance…..
It is conclusively prohibited to pluck,
remove or harm corals or any other coral
reef organisms.

Legislations Applicable to the Conservation of Coral reefs
●
EPA has two committees related to coral reefs:
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‘The National Committee for Biodiversity’:
Duties:
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Study the Convention on Biodiversity and follow up on
execution of its obligations on the state,
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Follow up with other related conventions,
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Indicate problems with biodiversity and suggest solutions,
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Provide strategic plans to conserve
biodiversity in the state.
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Legislations Applicable to the Conservation of Coral reefs
●
‘The National Committee for Biodiversity’:
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Proposed a law for the establishment of protected areas
(land and marine) in 1997.
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Legislations Applicable to the Conservation of Coral reefs
In this law, all coral reef areas were recommended to be protected
This law is still pending at the “Department of Legal Advice and Legislations”
at the Council of Ministers.

Legislations Applicable to the Conservation of Coral reefs
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The National committee for Trade in Endangered
Species.
 Hundreds of corals species are listed in Appendix II of
the CITES Convention, which means that international
trade in these species is regulated and monitored.
 Decision No. 210/2001 regarding the executive law of
the establishment of EPA states in Article 85 that:
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It is prohibited to trade in endangered wild life species or
in their parts and products listed by decision of EPA by
agreement with concerned parties, also those listed on
CITES text and other current international agreements.
Exception are permitted by concerned parties pending the
agreement of EPA for scientific, therapeutic, zoo and
exhibition purposes.
 Legislations Applicable to the Conservation of Coral reefs
 Resolution No. 93/2003 regarding the regulation of sale and
trade in endangered wildlife species:
 It is prohibited to exchange, sell or trade in
endangered wild life species or in their parts and
products, listed in the Appendices of the above
resolution (coral is listed in these Appendices), in local
markets or in private farms, without obtaining required
permits and adhering to the conditions listed in the
above resolution.
 Legislations Applicable to the Conservation of Coral reefs
Gaps in legislation:
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Weak enforcement of existing laws and violators are not
being punished,
Slow process of passing the legislation for the
establishment of protected areas,
Overlapping in responsibilities among different authorities
leads to ineffective enforcement of the laws,
Lack of specialists in international environmental law,
Weak cooperation among government and nongovernment organizations in matters of coral reef
conservation,
Weak cooperation with regional organizations,
Lack of guidelines for eco-tourism,
Lack of knowledgeable enforcement officers and
transportation means

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Research, Monitoring and Management
Kuwait Institute for Scientific
Research (KISR).
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Comprehensive study in mid 1980’s,
• Reports describing corals, coral fishes
and environment, as well as charting of
major coral reefs (5 volumes)
• Proposed coral islands and reefs as
protected areas and provided
management guidelines
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Major study in 1995
• A report describing coral reef
environment, eco-experiments and coral
spawning,
• Book: The Coral and Coral Reef Fishes
of Kuwait (160 pg).
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PhD work at present by PhD
candidate; Mr. Shaker Alhazeem.
• PhD dissertations on the ecology of
Kuwait coral reefs (in preparation).
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Research, Monitoring and Management
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Environment Public Authority (EPA):
• Funding of KISR’s research and studies,
• Assessment of coral reefs after the Gulf Crisis by IUCN,
• Participated in regional work shops organized by ROPME on the
subject of coral reefs,
• Cooperate with IUCN to build national capacity for monitoring
coral reefs,
• Establishment of Internal project to monitor coral reefs (coral
reef team),
• Cooperation with University of Miami,
• Cooperation with NCWCD (Saudi Arabia),
• Participated in Remote Sensing Training Workshops
(RS Applications in Marine Areas) organized by:
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Kuwait University,
ROPME.
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Research, Monitoring and Management
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Kuwait Environment Protection Society
(KEPS)(Kuwait Dive team):
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Documentation of coral reef species through
photography and videography
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Education and Public Awareness
Prints:
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Coral Reefs Book
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Coral Reefs Poster
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Coral Reefs Booklet
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Education and Public Awareness
 Photography
exhibits and contests on the
subject of coral reef environment by:
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Kuwait Environment Protection Society (e.g.
competition of best photograph),
Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR)
(e.g. Open Day),
Environment Public Authority
(e.g. International Day of Biodiversity).

Education and Public Awareness
 Articles
in periodicals and local
newspapers:
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KEPS
EPA
KISR
Science Club.
 Practical Conservation of Coral Reefs
 Debris Removal Efforts:
• Yearly cleaning campaigns are being conducted jointly by:
(Participant, Financial and Equipments)
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Environmental Public Authority,
Kuwait Environment Protection Society (Kuwait Dive Team),
Kuwait Centre for Volunteer work,
Kuwait Science club,
Kuwait Municipality,
Kuwait Oil Company,
Coast Guard,
Ministry of Communication,
Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources,
Dive Clubs,
Private Companies Specialised in Environmental Issues,
British Petroleum company,
Students from governmental and private schools,
And many other governmental and non governmental agencies.
 Practical Conservation of Coral Reefs
The debris could
consist of:
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Steel bars
 Anchors
 Drink Cans
 Batteries
 Cables
 Toys
 Glass bottles
 Etc…
(Total weight about
120 tons)
 Practical Conservation of Coral Reefs
 Drifting
fishing nets: Removal of 17 fishing
nets with a total weight of 14 tons By
efforts of the Kuwait Dive Team.
 Practical Conservation of Coral Reefs
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Dismantling and removing old jetties at coral
islands
 Practical Conservation of Coral Reefs
 Kuwait
municipality had put rubbish
containers on the coral island and
removes rubbish periodically.
 Practical Conservation of Coral Reefs
 Artificial Reefs: Jaber Al-Kuwait Reefs
As part of the efforts of the Kuwait Dive Team to
compensate destruction in natural coral reefs, Jaber Al-Kuwait
Reefs is a continuous project since 1995 to establish
artificial reefs by
deployment of
concrete blocks of
different shapes and
sizes, mainly in areas
adjacent to coral reefs
(Total weight 950 tons,
in 20 areas).
 Practical Conservation of Coral Reefs
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The establishment of artificial
reefs also aims to:
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Enable settlement of coral species
and create new coral reefs that
would compensate destroyed
natural coral reefs,
Increases the habitats for certain
coral reef associated species (fish,
sea urchins, algae ….etc,
Stop drifting fishing nets from
covering natural reefs,
Help in reducing erosion of coral
cays,
Provide additional diving sites
(relieves the pressure on natural
reefs).
 Practical Conservation of Coral Reefs
GAPS:
 We
need to determine the practicality of
artificial reefs, and how do they effect and
interact with Kuwait’s natural reefs by long
term studies.
 Practical Conservation of Coral Reefs
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Establishment and maintenance of
anchor Buoys:
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They have been deployed by Kuwait Dive
Team since 1995, mostly funded by EPA,
around coral islands and patch reefs
reaching 88 in numbers,
They minimize anchor damage to coral reefs,
Stop drifting fishing nets from reaching the
reef.
 Practical Conservation of Coral Reefs
 Anchor
Buoys:
Drawbacks:
 Some are lost due to lack of
maintenance,
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Funding for instillation and
maintenance has to be budgeted
annually and it is not certain,
Deployment and maintenance is
only carried out by unpaid
volunteers. However, this activity
should be the responsibility of a
government agency.
 Practical Conservation of Coral Reefs
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Diving institutes / Societies:
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Encourage voluntary work,
Establish national cadres (staff) specialised in
different fields of coral reefs,
Organize the public effort for a more effective field
conservation work.
National Needs to Improve Coral Reef Conservation
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It is important to enforce bylaws concerning the
establishment of EPA,
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Strengthen legislation for coral reef conservation and for
protected areas,
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Better enforcement of existing legislation,
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Speed up the process of marine protected area
declaration,
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Oil companies and other agencies should adopt
regulations that minimize their adverse effects on the
environment,
National Needs to Improve Coral Reef Conservation
(contd.)
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Develop capacity for coral reef monitoring by training for
coral reef monitoring methods. (e.g. Reef Check, Remote
Sensing, etc..),
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Identify and implement methods of coral reef conservation
and management,
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Build capacity for research and study of coral reefs,
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Include coral reef value and the benefit of its conservation
in public awareness and educational programs,
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Integrate the conservation efforts of government and nongovernment organizations,
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Building capacity for a national coral reef database.