Did you know that Bahrain coral reefs are the home of the Arabian Gulf’s most biodiverse marine systems. Yet, Bahrain has lost untold acres of mangroves to unplanned coastal development, and the resulting sedimentation has stressed coral reefs. Pollution from cities and oil spills remain as constant threats. Thus, since the Gulf War, the oil slicks adversely affected the fishing industry, and marine biologists remained uncertain about the longterm ecological impact of the pollution.
Bahrain needs to introduce stricter rules on dredging sand from the seabed. Current policies threaten to destroy marine wildlife, including entire ecosystems, if no action is taken. Studies show that around 2.5 million tones of sand is taken from Bahrain’s waters every year for use in construction and land reclamation. What make it even worse is that part of that is actually discharged back again into the sea causing harmful conditions to marine life.
With the increase in construction material prices, dredging marine sand from Bahrain’s shallow regional waters is a satisfying solution for the increasing demand of the construction sector, and provides the requirements of reclamation operations in the shallow coastal areas to build new ports and causeways.
Tubli Bay, located near the northeast corner of the island, supports the last remaining mangroves in Bahrain, is an important nursery ground for commercially important shrimps and over 45 species of birds utilize the abundant food resources. The bay has more than halved in size since 1950s due to alterations to the coastline. Over the past 50 years it has gone from measuring 24 sq km in size to just 10 sq km today. Only recently Tubli Bay was finally announced a marine reservation protected by law.
Fasht Al-Athem, another major coral reef located near the east cost of the island is in jeopardy due to further construction development. If not directly affected, the alteration of its surrounding ecosystems will allow it just few more years before marine life will start to degrade.
Bahrain needs to reconsider about new locations for development by focusing on using geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing techniques. Also introducing of cleaner production techniques and alternatives that have less impact on the marine ecosystems. It is of major significance to undertake detailed Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) especially over operations that are planned in environmentally sensitive areas, such as shallow coastal ecosystems.
It goes without saying that artificial structures will never be a substitute for what is being destroyed. Furthermore, the enormity of the dredge-and-fill is radically altering the marine life, causing widespread mortality in neighboring ecosystems. Thus, even if corals should settle on the breakwaters at some later stage, the natural dynamics of the system would be irreplaceably altered.
Bahrain surrounding coral reefs offers excellent drift diving and some of the most prolific marine life in the Gulf. Rays, moray eels, crayfish, trigger fish, clown fish, turtles, and sturgeon fish inhabit the reefs while mackerel, cobia, whale-sharks, dugongs, tuna and barracuda cruise above. It is even said that Bahrain coral reefs are endowed with the most Indo-Pacific fish species typically found in the Red Sea, Maldives and Great Barrier Reef. Fed by a cool upwelling from the surrounding depths.
