Efforts Towards Marine Conservation for the Sustainable Utilization of Kuwait s Marine Environment

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1 Efforts Towards Marine Conservation for the Sustainable Utilization of Kuwait s Marine Environment Faiza Y. Al-Yamani Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research

2 The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) entered into force on 29 December The first global agreement on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. It has 3 main objectives: -conservation of biodiversity -sustainable use of the components of biodiversity -Sharing of the benefits arising from commercial and other uses of genetic resources in a fair and equitable way. To deliver these goals, the Ecosystem Approach was adopted as the primary action framework.

3 Ecosytem-Based Management- Kuwait s Marine Environment Goal of EBM is to sustain ecosystem services EBM: Managing the range of human activities that affect marine ecosystems The ecosystem approach involves all relevant sectors of society and scientific disciplines. It considers the cumulative impacts of the different sectors

4 Setting Goals Steps Taken by Kuwait Towards EBM/ Compilation of available marine-related information; identification of gaps Identification of the different marine-related activities (current and future) related with sectors such as: Commercial and Recreational Fisheries Aquaculture Activities Recreation and Tourism Defense and Security Oil Industry Shipping (ballast / invasive alien species) Desalination and Power-generation Coastal Development Assessing their impacts

5 Major Environmental Crisis The 1991 Oil Spill Ecological and economic values Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA): economic value of ecosystem goods and services Massive Marine Mortality Incidences: -The 1999 HAB ( US$ 7 M loss in commercial fisheries) -The 2001 marine mortality (Bacterial infection)

6 Marine-Related Activities Internal Influences External Influences: Shatt Al-Arab & its associated marsh ecosystem; Shatt Al-Basrah Channel; Dams on Tigris and Euphrates Rivers The freshwater discharge from Shatt Al-Arab and Shatt Al-Basrah has major influence on the salinity, turbidity, nutrients, productivity and diversity of Kuwait s waters.

7 Shatt Al-Arab Arab System Shatt Al-Arab Arab waters are rich in: Nutrients Particulate organic matter NO µg-at/l PO µg-at/l Suspended Matter: 125 mg/l Variability in water quality of Kuwait s s northern waters is strongly linked with variability in the volume and quality of river flow

8 Impacts of Activities (Present & Future) The assessment of integrated impacts of the different marine-related activities on the marine environment. A strategic plan for the optimal and sustainable utilization of Kuwait s marine environment was formulated based on the obtained results. Several recommendations were proposed for reducing the impacts of the different marine-related activities and for better protection of the marine environment of Kuwait.

9 Selected activities on Kuwait s marine environment and relevant recommendations for its protection Area (Activities) Internal activities (coastal developments; urbanization;recreation) Overfishing; fishing gears Marine invasive alien species (shipping) Nature of Impact (examples) Negative impact on biodiversity, water quality; habitat loss & degradation Reduction in stocks; impact on benthic fauna and flora -HAB(Phaeocystis sp.) -Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) Recommendations (examples) Immediate promulgation of the law for establishment, management & protection of marine parks & protected areas Use of the most appropriate technology: VMS; BRDs, etc.. Measures to implement the IMO guidelines

10 Research Studies; Conservation Efforts; Laws & Regulations- Examples Several research programs were identified to fill gaps in knowledge and to improve understanding: Systematic monitoring; environmental & economic indicators Pelagic food chain dynamics Ecology of ELS; larval feeding; recruitment Biodiversity Studies (multidisciplinary; ecological) Conceptual ecosystem model Marine protected area is now designated in Bubiyan Island The Environment public Authority (EPA) & the Public Authority for Agriculture and Fisheries Resources (PAAFR), e.g., developed licensing regulations for mariculture activities, to minimize the environmental impacts of the mariculture industry on Kuwait s marine environment.

11 Studies- Kuwait: -Diversity - Distributi on - Seasonalit y - Productive habitats Plankton & Benthos Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research

12 Biodiversity Knowledge Gained & Progress Achieved ( ) Phytoplankton: Marine Phytoplankton Atlas of Kuwait Waters > 307 identified species Diatoms 202 Dinoflagellates 105 Others

13 Biodiversity Knowledge Gained & Progress Achieved Harmful Algae (HAB): Identification Guide to the Harmful Algae of Kuwait Waters (CD) Total of 77 identified HAB species, categorized as potentially harmful

14 90 50 Diatoms (%) Dinoflagellates (%) r 2 = Latitude Latitude 28.8 r 2 = SOUTH Iraq Saudi Arabia NORTH Kuwait

15 Iraq Phytoplankton community Kuwait Diatoms Saudi Arabia Dinoflagellates Other Toxic Harmful Bloom-forming Number of species Number of species Bubiyan internal Bubiyan external Kuwait Bay Coastal waters Open waters Southern waters ROPME Sea Area Bubiyan internal Bubiyan external Kuwait Bay Coastal waters Open waters Southern waters ROPME Sea Area NORTH HAB species SOUTH

16 Biodiversity Knowledge Gained & Progress Achieved Zooplankton Common Copepods of the Northwestern Arabian Gulf: Identification Guide Identification Guide for Protozoans (tintinnids) from Kuwait s Waters Identification Guide of the Larval Fishes from the Waters of Kuwait in the Arabian Gulf Interactive Guide for Larval Decapods of Kuwait s Waters (CD) Illustrated Guide of Zooplankton of Kuwait s Waters

17 Zooplankton Tintinnids: Total of 58 species were described 7 are new species Copepods: > 65 species

18 Fall Winter Spring Copepods

19 B4 B6 B3 K6 B8 B1 B12 B Occurrence of Acartiella faoensis & Pseudodiaptomus ardjuna Presence of P. ardjuna Absence of A. faoensis Absence of both species from Kuwait Bay & rest of Kuwait s waters

20 Biodiversity Knowledge Gained & Progress Achieved Phytobenthos (Flagellates and Diatoms) Illustrated Guide of the Marine Flagellates in Kuwait s Intertidal Soft Sediments Illustrated Guide of Marine Diatoms in Kuwait s Intertidal Soft Sediments

21 Biodiversity Knowledge Gained - Zoobenthos Illustrated Guide of Zoobenthos of Kuwait Waters

22 Other Studies About to Start Survey of the Intertidal Fauna of Kuwait Oceanographic, Fisheries & Biodiversity Databases Establishing Marine Park (Bubiyan Island) Five-Year Research Program: Ecosystem-based approach > 20 projects ( ) Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research

23 Thank You