Journal Article

The Growing Need for Sustainable Ecological Management of Marine Communities of the Persian Gulf

Feary, David A., Drouillard, Kenneth G., Usseglio, Paolo, Sale, Peter F., Burt, John A., Marquis, Elise, Van Lavieren, Hanneke, Cavalcante, Geórgenes H., Kjerfve, Björn, Bauman, Andrew G., Trick, Charles G.

2011

Overview

The Persian Gulf is a semi-enclosed marine system surrounded by eight countries, many of which are experiencing substantial development. It is also a major center for the oil industry. The increasing array of anthropogenic disturbances may have substantial negative impacts on marine ecosystems, but this has received little attention until recently. We review the available literature on the Gulf’s marine environment and detail our recent experience in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) to evaluate the role of anthropogenic disturbance in this marine ecosystem. Extensive coastal development may now be the single most important anthropogenic stressor. We offer suggestions for how to build awareness of environmental risks of current practices, enhance regional capacity for coastal management, and build cooperative management of this important, shared marine system. An excellent opportunity exists for one or more of the bordering countries to initiate a bold and effective, long-term, international collaboration in environmental management for the Gulf.

• Publisher: Springer,Springer-Verlag,Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences,Springer Science and Business Media LLC,Springer Netherlands,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: anthropogenic activities / Anthropogenic factors / Arabian Gulf / Arrays / Atmospheric Sciences / Biodiversity / Biogeography / Biology / Breakwaters / Coastal / Coastal development / Coastal ecology / Coastal zone management / Coasts / collaborative management / Conservation of Natural Resources / Construction / Cooperation / Coral reefs / Corals / Disturbances / Earth and Environmental Science / Ecological sustainability / Ecology / Ecosystem / Ecosystems / Environment / Environmental degradation / Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology / Environmental impact / Environmental Management / Environmental Monitoring / Environmental quality / Environmental risk / Fishing / Gulfs / Habitats / Human Activities / Humans / Indian Ocean / industry / International collaboration / International cooperation / Life Sciences / Literature reviews / Management / Marine / Marine Biology / Marine ecology / Marine ecosystems / Marine environment / Oil and gas industry / Persian Gulf / Petroleum industry / Physical Geography / Resource management / REVIEW PAPER / risk / Salinity / Seas / Seawater / Sediments / Surface water / Sustainability management / Sustainable development / United Arab Emirates / Water Pollution, Chemical