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Coral reefs to adorn UAE coastline

DUBAI - In a bid to conserve fragile habitats, the Marine Environmental Research Centre at the Ministry of Environment and Water is transplanting coral reefs along the UAE coastline.

Contributing towards protecting the areas where sea creatures live, the move to transplant these coral reefs has been set forth to achieve the strategic objectives of the ministry for creating a sustainable development for marine life.

The ministry aims to conserve habitats which are easily vulnerable to risks, and take a long time to be rehabilitated, such as mangrove trees and coral reefs.

Fragile habitats have been exposed to many natural and human challenges over the years, which has resulted in the loss of natural wealth — about 27 per cent of coral reefs, worldwide, have been destroyed.

According to scientific reports, 30 per cent of coral reef areas in the Arabian Gulf are threatened, or passing through critical times. Human and natural factors are to blame for the destruction of 60 per cent of coral reefs, reports added.

Director of the Marine Environmental Research Centre in Umm Al Quwain, Dr Ibrahim Al Jamali spoke of the importance of conserving these reefs: “Coral reefs are of paramount importance, as they serve as a resort to marine creatures and fishes,” also noting that coral reefs contribute towards tourism wealth.

He spoke at length about the transplantation of coral reefs and the creation of a suitable habitat where they can be grown.

The habitat of the coral reefs has several economic and ecological benefits for the marine environment as a whole, and these fauna are part of the strategy of the ministry, which is designed to boost the food security and environment of the UAE.

At present, the Centre has managed to transplant 24 species of coral reefs using advanced technologies, 10 of which had been selected for fixation due to their high rate of growth, and slow perish rate.

Two other species had also been fixed and recommended in the eastern coast of the country, in nearly 800 colonies, while another eight varieties were transplanted to Umm Al Quwain, with their colonies reaching nearly 1,400.

On the importance of rehabilitation and training, Al Jamali said the centre had trained a specialist team from Kuwait, the Kingdom of Bahrain and the UAE Diving Association on the technique of transplanting, as well as the cultivation of coral reefs in 2011 and 2012.

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