Conservation of Coral Reefs in Kuwait

1. Conservation of Coral Reefs in Kuwait By Adel H. Alsaffar Mariculture and Fisheries Department Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research asaffar@mfd.kisr.edu.kw Hani Al-Tamimi Living Resources Department Environment Public Authority hani_abbas@hotmail.com Arabian Gulf Marin Conservation Forum Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates 11-14 September 2006

2. Coral Reefs in Kuwait are found: • Associated with the Coral Islands (Kubbar, Qaro and Um Al-Maradem) • As Patch and platform reefs

3. Kubbar Island and surrounding Reef

4. Terns breeding at Kubbar Island

5. Qaro Island and surrounding Reef

8. Umm Al-Maradem Island and surrounding Reef

9. Patch and Platform Reefs

10. Coral Species • 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.

11. Fish Species Associated with Coral Reefs • 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.

12. Conservation Themes • Legislation Applicable to the Conservation of Coral Reefs, • Research, Monitoring and Documentation, • Education and Public awareness, • Practical Conservation of Coral Reefs.

13. 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: • 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.

14. 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.

15. Legislations Applicable to the Conservation of Coral reefs • 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.

16. Legislations Applicable to the Conservation of Coral reefs • EPA has two committees related to coral reefs: • ‘The National Committee for Biodiversity’: Duties: • Study the Convention on Biodiversity and follow up on execution of its obligations on the state, • Follow up with other related conventions, • Indicate problems with biodiversity and suggest solutions, • Provide strategic plans to conserve biodiversity in the state.

17. Legislations Applicable to the Conservation of Coral reefs • ‘The National Committee for Biodiversity’: • Proposed a law for the establishment of protected areas (land and marine) in 1997.

18. 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.

19. Legislations Applicable to the Conservation of Coral reefs • 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: • 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.

20. 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.

21. Legislations Applicable to the Conservation of Coral reefs Gaps in legislation: • 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 non-government 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

23. Research, Monitoring and Management • Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR). • 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 • 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). • PhD work at present by PhD candidate; Mr. Shaker Alhazeem. • PhD dissertations on the ecology of Kuwait coral reefs (in preparation).

24. Research, Monitoring and Management • 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: • Kuwait University, • ROPME.

25. Research, Monitoring and Management • Kuwait Environment Protection Society (KEPS)(Kuwait Dive team): • Documentation of coral reef species through photography and videography

26. Education and Public Awareness • Prints: • Coral Reefs Book • Coral Reefs Poster • Coral Reefs Booklet

27. Education and Public Awareness • Photography exhibits and contests on the subject of coral reef environment by: • 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).

28. Education and Public Awareness • Articles in periodicals and local newspapers: • KEPS • EPA • KISR • Science Club.

29. Practical Conservation of Coral Reefs • Debris Removal Efforts: • Yearly cleaning campaigns are being conducted jointly by: (Participant, Financial and Equipments) • 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.

30. Practical Conservation of Coral Reefs The debris could consist of: • Steel bars • Anchors • Drink Cans • Batteries • Cables • Toys • Glass bottles • Etc… (Total weight about 120 tons)

31. 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.

32. Practical Conservation of Coral Reefs Dismantling and removing old jetties at coral islands

33. Practical Conservation of Coral Reefs • Kuwait municipality had put rubbish containers on the coral island and removes rubbish periodically.

34. 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).

35. Practical Conservation of Coral Reefs • The establishment of artificial reefs also aims to: • 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).

36. 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.

37. Practical Conservation of Coral Reefs • Establishment and maintenance of anchor Buoys: • 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.

38. Practical Conservation of Coral Reefs • Anchor Buoys: Drawbacks: • Some are lost due to lack of maintenance, • 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.

39. Practical Conservation of Coral Reefs • Diving institutes / Societies: • 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.

40. National Needs to Improve Coral Reef Conservation • It is important to enforce bylaws concerning the establishment of EPA, • Strengthen legislation for coral reef conservation and for protected areas, • Better enforcement of existing legislation, • Speed up the process of marine protected area declaration, • Oil companies and other agencies should adopt regulations that minimize their adverse effects on the environment,

41. National Needs to Improve Coral Reef Conservation(contd.) • Develop capacity for coral reef monitoring by training for coral reef monitoring methods. (e.g. Reef Check, Remote Sensing, etc..), • Identify and implement methods of coral reef conservation and management, • Build capacity for research and study of coral reefs, • Include coral reef value and the benefit of its conservation in public awareness and educational programs, • Integrate the conservation efforts of government and non-government organizations, • Building capacity for a national coral reef database.

42. Thank you