2 days ago
Qatar's coral reefs: Vibrant, coloured cities beneath blue waves
QNA
Doha
Beneath the deep blue waves in Qatar, coral reefs sway like captivating cities brimming with life, adorned in the splendid colours of nature.
These marine gardens, aglow with the shimmer of coral hues and the graceful motion of sea creatures, carry messages from radiant realms of beauty that hold within them the secrets of nature and the challenges of the future, where divine artistry reveals itself in every corner of these hidden worlds beneath the waves.
Overlooking the warm waters of the Arabian Gulf, coral reefs in Qatar stand as a natural treasure reflecting the nation's distinctive marine biodiversity. Composed of calcium structures secreted by corals, minute organisms living in interconnected colonies, these reefs form intricate habitats that shelter a rich variety of fish, crustaceans, and mollusks, making them a focal point of biodiversity.
Qatar's reefs are home to more than 200 species of fish and 35 species of hard and soft corals, attesting to the richness of the ecosystem. They also provide natural havens for rare species such as sea turtles and small sharks, underscoring their ecological significance.
Notwithstanding their precious beauty and value, these coral reefs face a myriad of challenges.
Director of the Department of Wildlife Development at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Khaled Juma Bougjamhour Al Muhannadi, highlighted that Qatar has been marshalling systematic efforts through preparing and executing professional policies and programmes with the intent of protecting these reefs and marine habitat.
These efforts entail conducting comprehensive field surveys and research and backing the environmental rehabilitation initiatives as part of Qatar's ironclad commitment to sustaining its natural resources and conserving biodiversity in alignment with the Qatar National Vision 2030, Al Muhannadi said.
He affirmed that coral reefs in Qatar constitute one of the marine ecosystem pillars, as well as a habitat and a source to feed a variety of marine species, in addition to shielding coasts from erosion and preserving biodiversity.
These reefs harbour a rich and diverse array of corals, making them a critical component in supporting food security and the sustainability of the marine environment. They provide a natural reservoir for fish and marine life, bolster fishing activities, eco-tourism, and scientific research, and contribute to ecological balance through their role in the carbon cycle and in purifying the waters, Al Muhannadi added.
Al Muhannadi pointed out that the foremost challenges facing coral reefs and marine life in Qatari waters include climate change factors such as rising temperatures and salinity, which lead to coral bleaching and the death of certain species.
They likewise face threats from marine pollution, including abandoned fishing nets and gear, as well as plastics of all kinds, in addition to excessive sedimentation of suspended soil in the water and coastal development that may destroy coral assemblages, as well as pressures coming from overfishing and anthropogenic activities along the shoreline.
He emphasised that there is an array of regulations that citizens and fishermen must adhere to, like pursuing eco-friendly practices and abiding by laws that simply protect the marine environment and coral reefs, such as refraining from overfishing and harming or destroying them, as well as reporting any detrimental activities that may imperil the marine ecosystem.
The regulations also include public engagement in awareness campaigns, as well as the community's commitment to keeping beaches and waters clean, as these efforts contribute to safeguarding these vital resources. As such, there are research projects in Qatar that laser-focus on surveilling and improving the integrity of these reefs, Al Muhannadi outlined.
He added that biodiversity is largely monitored, with studies being conducted on coral species capable of adaptation and reproduction in the nation, elucidating that integrated research efforts also develop programmes to rehabilitate damaged areas and cultivate coral reefs, aiming to strengthen the integrity of marine life.
Al Muhannadi further highlighted that there are successful global practices that can be literally applied in Qatari waters to protect coral reefs and marine habitats, such as establishing marine reserves to regulate fishing and other marine activities in sensitive areas, in addition to leveraging industrial agro-technologies to rehabilitate the affected areas.
This is alongside heightened societal awareness programmes to conserve marine ecosystems, as pivoting toward cutting-edge technologies in monitoring the integrity of coral reefs and promptly responding to environmental crises represents an advanced model that can be enhanced in Qatar, Al Muhannadi noted.
Coral reefs in Qatar undoubtedly epitomise God-created vibrant cities and biodiversity, and they can be largely expanded through promoting awareness to take care of them and tout their beauty. These coloured cities that decorate the depths of seas stand vibrant, narrating the story of beauty for the next generations.
