The Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi’s (EAD) efforts to protect biodiversity in the emirate have contributed to an increase in the number of tourists visiting marine reserves in Abu Dhabi.
EAD statistics from last year showed that of the visitors to the emirate’s marine reserves, 57% were tourists, 17% were recreational fishermen, and 7% were commercial fishermen. Compared to 2020, marine reserves saw a 36.6% increase in activity last year.
The EAD pays special attention to the reserves in terms of preservation, care, and cleaning. Last year, the agency successfully removed debris and hazardous waste from marine reserves, removing old and neglected fishing tools that could endanger marine life.
The statistics showed that 58 sites were cleaned and 87,000 metres of nets weighing 38.56 tonnes were removed.
Between 2020 and 2022, the EAD cleaned over 482 sites. 6 Marine Reserves. The Environment Agency manages six marine reserves within the Zayed Network for Natural Reserves, representing 13.90% of the emirate’s total marine environment area.
This includes the Ras Ghannada Marine Reserve, the Yasat Marine Reserve, Bu Al Siyayif Marine Reserve, Saadiyat Marine National Park, Marawah Marine Reserve, and Qurm Marine National Park. These reserves host some of the best and most vital marine habitats in the emirate, rich in biodiversity in terms of the number and density of local species.
They also contain species that are endangered on both the local and global scales. Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Marine National Park is a habitat rich in marine life, providing homes for creatures like the endangered Hawksbill turtles that use the island’s coast for nesting.
The Yasat Marine Reserve is distinguished by its environmental significance, as well as its historical and cultural importance. The reserve’s islands are surrounded by coral reefs, an essential habitat for many marine creatures and an ideal environment for the breeding and nursing of fish. Qurm Marine National Park helps absorb and convert carbon dioxide, one of the gases causing climate change.
The park is located in the marine area adjacent to the Eastern Qurm Corniche. The Bu Al Siyayif Marine Reserve is an important area for migratory and resident birds and provides a safe haven for many marine species that live in the wetlands.
The Marawah Marine Reserve is an ideal model of the country’s marine and coastal environment, and is home to the second-largest congregation of dugongs in the world. The Ras Ghannada Marine Reserve has coral reef congregations that have both direct and indirect economic value, as they help protect the coastal area from hurricanes and are an essential element for tourist attraction.
The EAD’s efforts have contributed to stabilising vital creatures such as marine turtles, manatees, Arabian oryx, and increasing the numbers of birds like flamingos and bustards, as well as environments such as coral reefs and mangroves.
Moreover, these efforts have enhanced the country’s status on the global environmental action map. Recent discoveries confirm the recording of species that were either extinct or had not been recorded for over 20 years, like the desert cat and caracal, among others.
There are also ongoing discoveries of new species that are being recorded for the first time in the UAE and, in some cases, in the world. Marine reserves in Abu Dhabi are also characterised the large quantities of manatees that congregate within them.
The emirate’s reserves have one of the largest gatherings of manatees in the world, second only to Australia, with a total of 2,762 manatees in the Marawah reserve. Additionally, the largest pod of Indian dolphins calls Abu Dhabi its home. The marine reserves have also successfully nurtured endangered green turtles and hawksbill turtles, underscoring the reserves’ significant role in preserving wildlife.