This book is published with the support of: The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, (previously known as ERWDA), Mubadala Development Company First Gulf Bank Dolphin Energy Limited Aldar Properties and the following bodies: Total Shell

Copyright ©2005 Trident Press Limited Editors: Peter Hellyer and Simon Aspinall Publisher: Peter Vine Production Director: Paula Vine Typesetting, design and illustration: Jane Stark (Trident Press)

The rights of the following authors (in order of first appearance in the text): HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Mohammed Al Bowardi, Peter Hellyer, Simon Aspinall, Gary Feulner, Graham Evans, Anthony Kirkham, Peter Whybrow, Andrew Smith, Andrew Hill, Gary Brown, Benno Böer, Mark Beech, Olivia Pozzan, David John, David George, Geraldine Reid, David Williams, Michael Gillett, Conrad Gillett, Brigitte Howarth, Richard Hornby, Peter Hogarth, Eike Neubert, Stephen Green, Drew Gardner, Robert Baldwin, Peter Cunningham, Thabet Al Abdessalaam, John Hoolihan, Chris Drew, Christian Gross, Jane Ashley-Edmonds, and Kevin Budd to be identified as the authors of this work have been asserted in accordance with The Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988, Sections 77 and 78.

© Photographs remain copyright of the photographers or alternate copyright owners (listed alphabetically): Thabit Zahran Al Abdessalaam, A.N.T. Photo Library, Simon Aspinall, BP Photographic Archive, Robert Baldwin, Paul Bates/Harrison Museum, Mark Beech, Benno Böer, Gary Brown, Lorrain Egan, Birgit Eichseneher, Hanne and Jens Eriksen, Gary Feulner, Drew Gardner, David George, Graham Giles, Michael Gillett, Christian Gross, Daniel Heuclin/NHPA, John Hoolihan, Richard Hornby, Marijcke Jongbloed, Lucy Munro, Eike Neubert, Robert Reimer, Hagen Schmid, Alex Smailes, Chris and Tilde Stuart, Peter Tessloff, Barbara Tigar/Patrick Osborne, M. Turkay, Peter Vine, Tony Waltham, Reinhard Westphal/Trident Press, Peter Whybrow.

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THE ENVIRONMENT AGENCY –ABU DHABI is a government agency that was established in 1996 with the objective of protecting and conserving the environment as well as promoting sustainable development in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The Agency’s mission is to assist the Abu Dhabi Government in the conservation and management of the Emirate's natural environment, resources, wildlife and biological diversity through scientific research, proactive planning and co-ordination, environmental awareness promotion, policy formulation and enforcement that balances sustainable economic development with protection of the environment for this and future generations. The Agency’s vision is to become the Emirate's primary centre for information, co-ordinated scientific research and application, and policy guidance and enforcement regarding conservation and management of the Emirate's natural environment, resources, wildlife, and biological diversity. Also, to earn consideration by its government, private and public clients, stakeholders, and the international community as the Emirate's single credible, performance-oriented, innovative, and reliable resource in this regard.

MUBADALA DEVELOPMENT COMPANY was FIRST GULF BANK was established in 1979 DOLPHIN ENERGY LIMITED is delighted to be a ALDAR PROPERTIES PJSC was formed in 2004, established in 2002 through Emiri Decree as offering a wide range of financial services sponsor and supporter of this beautiful new taking over the assets of the former ADDAR a wholly-owned investment vehicle of the in the UAE. Over the last 25 years FGB study on the unusual flora, fauna and Real Estate Services LLC. ALDAR has been Government of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. has expanded its business operation across geology of the United Arab Emirates. established to operate at the forefront of the Mubadala has been undertaking global the country with branches in Abu Dhabi, An unparalleled group of experts from all real estate, development and investment joint-ventures with industry leaders, and Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah and Al Ain. over the world, as well as UAE-based industry in the UAE, and to become the most has committed to delivering sustainable The Bank’s vision is to be a world-class scholars, has been responsible for the forward looking and innovative property profitability over many years. Mubadala is organisation maximising value to all its research, study and editorial preparation that developer in the region. also developing and driving a culture of shareholders, customers and employees. have gone into this work. It presents both a ALDAR has already released Al Raha performance, to grow Abu Dhabi’s own First Gulf Bank is now one of the fastest review of current knowledge – and a guide Gardens, Abu Dhabi’s first freehold residential cadre of national managers for the next growing and leading banks in the UAE. to what needs to be done in reviving and development for sale to the national generation. The Bank offers financial services to three conserving the fragile ecosystem of the community. Other projects currently under Mubadala’s vision is to become the partner major groups. nation. way include the 6.8-million-square-metre Al of choice for leading global companies who Corporate Banking provides financial Dolphin Energy’s major strategic initiative, Raha Beach Development (which will are looking for long-term development and solutions to institutions and corporations the Dolphin Gas Project, involves the become the new gateway to Abu Dhabi City) investment ventures within the region and through a highly qualified team of experts, production and processing of natural gas and construction of the prestigious Imperial worldwide. It intends to become a focusing on customized services through from Qatar’s North Field, and transportation College London Diabetes Centre – a facility benchmark for business excellence in this its Relationship Managers. of the dry gas by subsea pipeline across for diabetes treatment and research. region. We shall accomplish this through The Retail Banking Group offers a wide joint UAE-Qatari waters to the UAE and the The state-of-the-art MDC-EAD Headquarters teamwork, professionalism, transparency range of financial services to individuals Sultanate of Oman, beginning in late 2006. Building, featuring the latest in building and training – and by continuing to select that include credit cards, personal loans, The environmental challenges to such a technology, amenities and services is also in the appropriate partners. auto loans, deposits, etc; through the wide project are extensive. An important part of hand – together with the Al Jimi Mall Mubadala’s mission is to invest in network of branches across the UAE and the company’s mandate, from its very extension in Al Ain. The major showpiece commercially viable, strategic, industrial and 24 hours Phone Banking Services. beginning in 1999, has been to protect and project for both Abu Dhabi and ALDAR commercial partnerships: joint-ventures that The Treasury and Investment Department renew delicate subsea and mountain Properties, the Central Market redevelopment will contribute directly to the expansion of offers investment services to the customers environments throughout this fascinating will revitalise the entire area of the Old Souk Abu Dhabi’s financial, technological, in international and local equity markets, region, wherever Dolphin is operating. with a high profile mix of luxury stores, industrial and managerial assets. foreign exchange and portfolio Dolphin’s commitment to safeguarding hotels and residential apartments at the www.mubadala.ae management. the environment ranks equally with all its heart of Abu Dhabi City. other primary business objectives. www.fgb.ae www.aldar.com www.dolphinenergy.com

TOTAL has been an innovator in oil exploration for 40 years. Today, we are SHELL ABU DHABI believes in the importance of good corporate drilling to ever greater depths in response to an urgent need to access new citizenship and, as such, has made sustainable development a key energy resources. Total has also been at the forefront of efforts to bring driver to how we conduct business and attain good citizenship. To new, environmentally focused solutions to the surface, preparing the way achieve this we have developed a strategic partnership with the for the future of solar energy since the 1980s. Through our active Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi and other institutions in Abu Dhabi involvement in the development of photovoltaic systems, Total is already and focused on supporting programmes dealing with environmental, equipping populations far from electricity networks. educational and social issues. CONTENTS

FOREWORD Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan ...... 7 INTRODUCTION Mohammed Al Bowardi ...... 8 DISCOVERY RESEARCHINGTHEEMIRATES Peter Hellyer and Simon Aspinall ...... 13 MANANDTHEENVIRONMENT Mohammed Al Bowardi and Peter Hellyer ...... 27 GEOLOGY

GEOLOGICAL OVERVIEW Gary Feulner ...... 41 THEEMIRATES–ANATURALHISTORY A GEOLOGICAL HISTORY ...... 41 THE SAND DESERT ...... 46 SABKHA ENVIRONMENTS ...... 50 THE HAJAR MOUNTAINS ...... 53 THE QUATERNARY PERIOD ...... 59 STRUCTURAL UNITS AND ROCK TYPES ...... 60

THE QUATERNARY DEPOSITS Graham Evans and Anthony Kirkham ...... 65 SEA LEVEL CHANGES ...... 66 ALLUVIAL FANS ...... 68 AEOLIANDUNES ...... 69 MARINE DEPOSITS ...... 71 PLEISTOCENE ...... 72 HOLOCENE ...... 73 EVAPORITES ...... 77 RECENT COASTAL DEVELOPMENT ...... 78

THEFOSSILRECORD Peter J. Whybrow, Andrew Smith and Andrew Hill ...... 81 CONTINENTS ON THE MOVE ...... 81 EMIRATES GEOLOGY AND PALAEONTOLOGY ...... 83 TERRESTRIAL HABITATS Gary Brown and Benno Böer ...... 93 MAJOR TERRESTRIAL TYPES AND THEIR VEGETATION ...... 95 HALOXYLON PERSICUM COMMUNITY ...... 101 TRIBULUS ARABICUS ...... 101 THE CAVE FAUNA OF JEBEL HAFIT Mark Beech, Olivia Pozzan and Simon Aspinall ...... 108

THEMARINEENVIRONMENT David George and David John ...... 111 PHYSICAL & CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS ...... 111 GEOMORPHOLOGY ...... 113 HABITATS ...... 115 THE SHORE & SHALLOW SEAS David John and David George ...... 123 SHORES ...... 123 ROCKPOOLS ...... 126 MANGROVES ...... 127 SHALLOW WATER ...... 128 LIFE IN THE MANGROVES Benno Böer and Simon Aspinall ...... 133 FLORA ...... 134 ANTHROPOGENIC IMPACT ...... 135 INTRODUCED MANGROVES ...... 135 BIRDS IN MANGROVES ...... 136

4 S T N E T N O C

WILDLIFE TERRESTRIAL PLANTS Gary Brown and Benno Böer ...... 141 HISTORY OF BOTANICAL RESEARCH ...... 141 FLOWERING PLANTS ...... 141 FERNS, BRYOPHYTES AND LICHENS ...... 144 ALGAE, CYANOBACTERIA AND FUNGI ...... 144 ADAPTATIONS OF DESERT PLANTS TO THEIR ENVIRONMENT ...... 145 TRADITIONAL USES OF DESERT PLANTS AND VEGETATION ...... 151 THREATS TO THE VEGETATION AND FLORA ...... 153 OUTLOOK FOR FUTURE RESEARCH ...... 155 LICHENS Gary Brown ...... 156 MARINE PLANTS David John ...... 161 GREEN ALGAE (PHYLUM CHLOROPHYTA) ...... 161 BROWN ALGAE (PHYLUM PHAEOPHYTA) ...... 162 RED ALGAE (PHYLUM RHODOPHYTA) ...... 165 MICROALGAE David John, Geraldine Reid & David M. Williams ...... 167 SEAGRASSES ...... 167

INSECTS & OTHER ARTHROPODS Michael Gillett and Conrad Gillett ...... 169 A BRIEF HISTORY OF INSECT COLLECTION IN ARABIA ...... 170 SYSTEMATIC ACCOUNT OF INSECTS ...... 171 THE PHYLUM ARTHROPODA IN THE UAE ...... 174 DRAGONFLIES AND DAMSELFLIES (ORDER ODONATA) ...... 176 GRASSHOPPERS AND CRICKETS (ORDER ORTHOPTERA) ...... 178 TRUE AND TWO-WINGED FLIES (ORDER DIPTERA) Brigitte Howarth ...... 180 BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS (ORDER LEPIDOTERA) ...... 182 ANTS, BEES AND WASPS (ORDER HYMENOPTERA) ...... 184 BEETLES(ORDERCOLEOPTERA) ...... 186 ARTHROPODS OTHER THAN INSECTS ...... 189 CLAMSHRIMPS Richard Hornby ...... 195 MARINE INVERTEBRATES David George ...... 197 SPONGES(PHYLUMPORIFERA) ...... 197 CNIDARIANS (PHYLUM CNIDARIA) ...... 199 ANNELIDS (PHYLUM ANNELIDA) ...... 204 (PHYLUM CRUSTACEA) ...... 205 CRABS Peter Hogarth and Mark Beech ...... 208 MOLLUSCS (PHYLUM ) ...... 211 SEA MATS (PHYLUM BRYOZOA) ...... 215 ECHINODERMS (PHYLUM ECHINODERMATA) ...... 216 TUNICATES (PHYLUM CHORDATA) ...... 220 LANDSNAILS Gary Feulner, Eike Neubert and Stephen A. Green ...... 223 NATIVE ...... 223 ALESSONINBIOGEOGRAPHY ...... 227 INTRODUCED SPECIES ...... 227 TERRESTRIALREPTILES Drew Gardner...... 229 LIZARDS ...... 229 SNAKES ...... 236 MARINEREPTILES Robert Baldwin and Drew Gardner ...... 243 SEA TURTLES ...... 243 SEA TURTLES IN THE UAE ...... 246 SEASNAKES ...... 247 SEA SNAKES IN THE UAE ...... 248

AMPHIBIANS Peter Cunningham and Gary Feulner ...... 253 FRESHWATER Gary Feulner ...... 257 NATIVE SPECIES ...... 257 INTRODUCED SPECIES ...... 258 OTHER SPECIES POSSIBLY PRESENT ...... 259

5 MARINEFISH Mark Beech, Thabit Zahran Al Abdessalaam and John Paul Hoolihan ...... 261 SHALLOW DEMERSAL ...... 261 SHALLOW PELAGIC ...... 263 COASTAL DEMERSAL ...... 264 COASTAL PELAGIC ...... 265 DEEPWATER DEMERSAL ...... 266 OCEANIC PELAGIC ...... 267 WHALESHARKS ...... 268 ENDANGERED SPECIES ...... 268 KINGFISH DNA STUDY ...... 269 COMMERCIAL ...... 269 PELAGIC GAME FISHERIES ...... 272 BIRDS Simon Aspinall ...... 283 THE UAE’S ORNITHOLOGICAL YEAR ...... 286 TOWN, PARK, GARDEN ...... 288 MOUNTAINS AND WADIS ...... 290 THEALLUVIALPLAINS(PIEDMONT) ...... 292

THEEMIRATES–ANATURALHISTORY THE SAND DESERT ...... 293 COAST AND ISLANDS ...... 294 MAN-MADEWETLANDS ...... 298 AGRICULTURE AND PLANTATIONS ...... 300 INTERTIDAL AREAS ...... 302 TERRESTRIALMAMMALS Simon Aspinall, Peter Hellyer and Chris Drew, with Christian Gross, Jane Ashley-Edmonds and Kevin Budd ...... 307 HEDGEHOGS AND SHREWS (INSECTIVORA) ...... 307 ARABIA’S SMALLEST MAMMAL: SAVI’S PYGMY SHREW Jane Ashley-Edmonds ...... 308 BATS (CHIROPTERA) ...... 308 CARNIVORES (CARNIVORA) ...... 310 WOLVES AND FOXES (CANIDAE) ...... 311 MONGOOSES(HERPESTIDAE) ...... 313 HYAENAS (HYAENIDAE) ...... 313 CATS (FELIDAE) ...... 314 ARABIAN LEOPARD Kevin Budd and Jane Ashley-Edmonds ...... 316 HYRAXES (PROCAVIDAE) ...... 320 EVEN-TOED UNGULATES (ARTIODACTYLA) ...... 320 GOATS, SHEEP AND ANTELOPES (BOVIDAE) ...... 320 ARABIAN ORYX Jane Ashley-Edmonds ...... 323 ARABIAN (MOUNTAIN) GAZELLE ...... 324 SAND GAZELLE ...... 327 CAPE HARE Chris Drew ...... 328 RODENTS (RODENTIA) ...... 330 SQUIRRELS (SCIURIDAE) ...... 330 JERBOAS (DIPODIDAE) ...... 330 RATS AND MICE (MURIDAE) ...... 331 GERBILS AND JIRDS (CIRCETIDAE) ...... 332 SPECIES EXTINCT IN THE UAE OR PRESENCE NOT PROVEN ...... 333 MARINEMAMMALS Robert Baldwin ...... 335 BALEEN WHALES ...... 336 TOOTHED WHALES AND DOLPHINS ...... 337 DUGONGS ...... 342 CONSERVATION OF MARINE MAMMALS IN THE UAE ...... 34

6 MARINEFISH H S I F E N I R A M

BIOGEOGRAPHICALLY, THE WATERS OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES belong to the Western Indian Ocean faunal province. Numerous factors govern the abundance and distribution of and marine species in the waters of the UAE. Perhaps the most important of these is the contrast between the two main water masses lapping the country. The relatively shallow (average depth 35 metres) and nearly enclosed Arabian Gulf is characterised by a stressful environment of high salinity (more than 40 parts per thousand (ppt), in summer), high summer temperatures, exceeding 35˚C at its peak, and wide temperature fluctuations between seasons. On the other hand, waters of the Gulf of Oman, which bathe the East Coast of the UAE, exhibit more oceanic properties with much lower salinity levels (around 37 ppt) and a more equable temperature regime.

Fish exhibit a strong tendency to inhabit certain habitats, thereby categories: demersal, or bottom-dwelling, and pelagic species, allowing categorisation of fish fauna by habitats. Furthermore, ‘off’ the bottom. These two categories may be further subdivided grouping fish in this way permits observers to appreciate the into shallow, coastal and deep-water or oceanic species. Among similarities and differences of the different species. The fish and the demersals, an additional category of coral reef species may marine fauna of the UAE may be broadly divided into two main also be added. SHALLOWDEMERSAL

This category covers bottom-dwelling fish found in shallow water, Seven species have been reported from shallow marine less than 20 metres deep. The mojarras/silver-biddies (Gerreidae) environments adjacent to sabkha-related habitats. These are the are an important family of local shallow-water species, found on Sind sardinella Sardinella sindensis, the Arabian pupfish Lebias sandy and rocky bottoms as well as in lagoons, at depths of dispar, the kingsoldier bream Argyrops spinifer, the orange-spotted between 10 to 20 metres. They may, however, be encountered in grouper Epinephelus coioides, the jarbua terapon Terapon jarbua, waters as deep as 50 metres. Other significant shallow-water the common silver-biddy Gerres oyena and greenback mullet Liza demersal species include the eel catfish (Plotosidae), sawfish subviridis. No fish are found exclusively in sabkha habitats. Species (Pristidae), pipefish and seahorses (Syngnathidae), cornet fish composition there depends on colonisation by marine species from (Fistulariidae), terapons (Teraponidae), sillagos (Sillaginidae), the adjacent sea. These can therefore be classified ecologically as goatfish (Mullidae), sicklefish (Drepanidae) and batfish (Ephippidae). transients represented by tidal and seasonal visitors, or residents Fish found at similar depths, but more restricted to coral reefs, represented by true and partial residents (Zajonz et al. 2002). include at least one member of the requiem sharks (Carcharhinidae), the blacktip reef shark Carcharhinus melanopterus, angelfish BACKGROUND PHOTO: A school of trevally Carangoides bajad (Pomacanthidae), butterfly fish (Chaetodontidae), cardinal fish BELOW: Parrotfish (Scaridae) are among the species found in shallow water in the vicinity of coral reefs, (Apogonidae), fusiliers (Caesionidae), damselfish (Pomacentridae), wrasses and tuskfish (Labridae), parrotfish (Scaridae), blennies (Blennidae), gobies (Gobiidae) and surgeonfish (Acanthuridae). The shallow benthic habitat, especially when associated with seagrass beds, lagoons and mangroves, serves as an important nursery ground and shelter for many species, including those normally found further offshore, such as a number of rays and skates, snappers (Lutjanidae), grunts (Haemulidae), emperors (Lethrinidae) and seabream (Sparidae).

2 6 1 Surgeonfish Acanthurus sohal

Indo-Pacific sergeant Abudefduf vaigiensis THEEMIRATES–ANATURALHISTORY

Orange-spotted grouper Epinephelus coioides

ABOVE: Batfish Platax orbicularis ABOVE RIGHT: Gerres filamentosus RIGHT: Terapon jarbua

2 6 2 SHALLOWPELAGIC H S I F E N I R A M

Among shallow pelagic species are ilishas (Pristigasteridae) and silversides (Atherinidae), which often frequent coastal lagoons. A number of species belonging to the hammerhead shark family (Sphyrnidae) can be added to this group: the winghead shark Eusphyra blochii, the great hammerhead Sphyrna mokarran, the smooth hammerhead S. zygaena, and juveniles of the scalloped hammerhead S. lewini. Again, the blacktip reef shark is included here. Mullet (Mugilidae) which spend some time at the bottom, although usually categorised as demersals, also belong within this category.

Blacktip reef shark Carcharhinus melanopterus

Silverside (Atherinidae)

Greenback mullet Liza subviridis

Winghead shark Eusphyra blochii ILLUSTRATIONSNOTTOSCALE

2 6 3 COASTALDEMERSAL

The habitat of coastal demersal species extends from the nearshore from depths of around 20 down to 100 metres. In this category are a number of shark species, including the bamboo shark (Hemiscylliidae), the zebra shark Segostoma varium, the Arabian smoothhound Mustelus mosis, the bramble shark Echinorhinus brucus, the bull shark Carcharhinus leucas and some ray species including the electric ray (Torpedinidae), guitarfish (Rhinobatidae), the stingray (Dasyatidae) and the longtail Gymnura poecilura. Also included are the sea catfish (Ariidae), groupers (Serranidae), snappers, grunts, sea bream, emperors, threadfin breams (Nemipteridae) and rabbitfish (Siganidae). Some of the species in this group are among the most important commercial species throughout the region. THEEMIRATES–ANATURALHISTORY

Spangled emperor Lethrinus nebulosus Silver grunt Pomadasys argenteus

Zebra shark Segostoma varium

Bramble shark Echinorhinus brucus

Arabian smoothhound Mustelus mosis

2 6 4 MARINEFISH 2 6 5 Golden trevally Gnathanodon speciosus Carangoides bajad ILLUSTRATIONSNOTTOSCALE Rachycentron canadum Cobia Orange-spotted trevally COASTALPELAGIC Caranx ignobilis Giant trevally , and most of the members Nurse shark (Ginglymostomatidae) , and some members of the requiem Rachycentron canadum Coastal pelagic species include some sharks, such asnurse the shark and (Ginglymostomatidae) the whale shark Rhincodon typus of the jack/trevally family (Carangidae) which,occupying although near-bottom habitats, may be categorisedcoastal as pelagic. shark family. Other species in thismembers category of include the order Elopiformes, such(Elopidae) and as tarpons tenpounders (Megalopidae), most of the members of the sardine, sardinella and(Clupeidae), anchovies (Engraulidae), shad milkfish (Chanidae), family cobias DEEPWATERDEMERSAL

Most of the deepwater species in the UAE occur in the Gulf of Oman waters off the East Coast, at depths below 80 metres. Species which also occur in shallow waters include the morays (Muraenidae), pike congers (Muraenesocidae), lizardfish (), flatheads (Platycephalidae), bigeyes (Priacanthidae), croakers (Sciaenidae), armourheads (Pentacerotidae), cutlass fish (Trichiuridae), tripodfish (Triacanthidae), boxfish (Ostraciidae) and (Balistidae). A new triggerfish species for the Gulf was recently procured (and eaten) in the UAE (Beech 1999).

Bluetail trunkfish Ostracio cyanurus THEEMIRATES–ANATURALHISTORY

Shortnose tripodfish Triacanthus biaculeatus

Picasso triggerfish assasi

Undulated moray Gymnothorax undulatus

2 6 6 MARINEFISH 2 6 7 , Mene maculata Echeneis, naucrates Mene maculata Moonfish Aetobatis narinari ILLUSTRATIONSNOTTOSCALE Spotted eagle ray Thunnus, tonngol and the ocean sunfish (Molidae). Coryphaena, hippurus moonfish C.. longimanus Other pelagic oceanicinclude species needlefish found in (Belonidae), UAE sharksuckers waters dolphinfish barracuda (Sphyraenidae), several tuna species includinglongtail the tuna Specimens of this latter groupin have been UAE waters occasionally (Al-Ghais observed 1994; Iddison 2002). OCEANICPELAGIC Istiophorus. platypterus Galeocerdo cuvier, the silky Scomberomorus, commerson Mola mola Sunfish Carcharhinus, falciformis and the oceanic whitetip shark shark Common pelagic oceanic species foundthe in narrow-barred UAE Spanish waters include mackerel known locally as kingfish, andOther sailfish fish in this category include devil raysrays (Mobulidae) and (Myliobatidae), eagle as well as severalshark members family, including of the the tiger requiem shark WHALESHARKS

Whale shark Rhincodon typus

On 8 October 1988, a small whale shark estimated to weigh 3 tonnes, was caught off the East Coast, 20 kilometres off Bidiya. On 17 December 1988, a 6-metre-long whale shark was caught off the coast of Sha’am in Ra’s al-Khaimah. Its estimated weight was reported as being anything between half a tonne and 3.5 tonnes. On 13 September 1989, a dead whale shark was taken from a narrow channel near the watchtower at the entrance to Jebel Ali. This was lifted by crane, its weight being estimated as being 7 tonnes. On 21 April 1991, a juvenile less than 5 metres in length

THEEMIRATES–ANATURALHISTORY was caught off the breakwater near Abu Dhabi. On 31 December 1991, a 7-metre individual, with an estimated weight of up to 4 tonnes, was killed in a collision with a naval vessel a few kilometres offshore, and was subsequently brought into Abu Dhabi’s Mina Zayed port. WHALE SHARKS, KNOWN LOCALLY IN ARABIC as channaz, are the largest living The largest whale shark reported to date in UAE waters was 10 metres fish in the world. They are a pantropical species, occurring in tropical long and had a reported weight of 50 tonnes. Whilst the latter figure is and warm-temperate waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. certainly exaggerated, the fisherman from Sha’am village who caught it, They can reportedly reach up to 16 metres in length. These extraordinary Abdullah Mohammed Abdullah, stated that: ‘we normally catch up to six fish are a surface-dwelling, pelagic species that mainly feed on plankton, a year, but none as big as this one. It is probably the largest caught in which they obtain by straining the water through their gill arches. Whale the last 40 years.’ (Brown 1992). sharks are highly migratory. Movements of thousands of kilometres over More recently, a whale shark, estimated to have been 8 metres in length, periods of weeks or months have been recorded through satellite tracking entered an Abu Dhabi marina and became trapped and subsequently in the eastern Pacific and south-east Asia. Their movement follows blooms died, despite efforts to usher it back through the narrow entrance. At the of planktonic organisms. Sometimes they feed on fish and squids, and take end of 2002, an adult accompanied by a juvenile passed along the Abu advantage of schools of tuna that concentrate small and larval fish at the Dhabi Corniche towards the dead-end in front of the Hilton hotel. In this surface by rising vertically under the schools to feed (Compagno 1984; instance, they were successfully coerced into turning back and made Randall 1995: 21). their way out to open water (Hazim al Chalabi, pers. comm.). Whale sharks are occasionally observed in the warm waters of a number The location of whale shark nurseries is unknown and remains one of of states surrounding the Arabian Gulf. Positive identifications have the interesting mysteries of shark biology. It is worth noting here the recently been noted off the coast of Kuwait (Bishop and Abdul-Ghaffar presence of a number of juveniles captured in UAE waters. Gulf waters 1993), as well as in the Arabian Sea and off the Gulf of Oman coast of the may play an important role in the life cycle of whale shark populations Sultanate of Oman (Randall 1995; White and Barwani 1971). A number in the western Indian Ocean. The IUCN Red List records that data is of records exist in UAE waters, which were summarised by the renowned deficient for this species and lists it as a ‘species under threat’. naturalist, the late Bish Brown (Brown 1992). Mark Beech ENDANGEREDSPECIES

Although guidelines have been compiled to assist with the direct result of the over-fishing of large adult individuals (Al evaluation of the threatened status of marine fish using the Red Abdessalaam, in press). Old fishermen’s tales of large ‘hamoor’ List Categories and Criteria of the World Conservation Union, (groupers) which once prospered in the coastal waters, as well as IUCN (IUCN 2003), it is not always a straightforward matter to stories of giant sharks caught in days gone by, further suggest that compile such a list and an agreed ‘Red List’ for the fish of the over-fishing has effected a change in the local marine ecosystem. It UAE does not yet exist. is not only the catching of immature fish which can affect the A salutary warning, however, is the fact that in a recent study of balance of fish populations. The trade to the Far East of shark fins commercial fish caught in Abu Dhabi waters, it was demonstrated has had a disastrous effect on shark populations worldwide, leading that a large proportion of the landed catch was immature fish, a to a number of species now being considered as endangered.

2 6 8 MARINEFISH 2 6 9 John Hoolihan Results from this study should provide answers to such questions as (formerly ERWDA) is spearheading regional co-operativeat research determining aimed stock assessment and delineationresearch, of fin this clip species. samples In are this collectedanalyses. for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) whether kingfish being caught throughout thesame region stock originate or from represent the various populations.(PCR) Polymerase techniques chain are reaction used to multiplyquantities. the Targeted gene mtDNA segments to are the then required to tested determine with if there specific is primers variation in thewhereby sequencing. an Using electric electrophoresis, current is run through adifferences gel can containing tissue samples, be detected in theacross individual the sample’s gel migration itself. patterns is perhaps Lutjanus quinquelineatus COMMERCIALFISHERIES Scomberomorus commerson Five-lined snapper , it is pursued by both commercial and recreational PANISH MACKEREL S kanad

BARRED -

Marine and fisheries resources have always occupied an HE NARROW The north-west Indian Ocean is‘statistical designated area by 51’. the It FAO has as asquare surface kilometres area and of encompasses around regions 30 withfishery million very resources different characteristics. Fisheries have beenin important the Arabian Gulf andthe Gulf pearl of Oman of since the ancienteconomy Arabian times, in and Gulf the was pre-oil once era. a Risingpopularity mainstay incomes of of and the fish the as traditional aresources dietary of item the have area resulted becoming in fully virtually exploited. all important place in the UAE andsupporting still a do traditional so way today. of Apart lifeearliest from known that archaeological sites can in the be region traced some back 7,000ago to (Beech years 2001; the 2003; 2004), these resources still provideimportant an source of income, food andmany recreational residents opportunity of for the country. Typical of theresponse global to trend, a and in growing demand for fishery and marine products, the the most important of the region’s highly migratory species.for Greatly prized human consumption and known locallyArabic name as of the kingfish or byfishermen. its Widespread through the Indo-Pacific region,in it Australia, is South well known and northrepresentative to of the a Arabian so-called Gulf. ‘straddling Kingfish stock’political are in boundaries the and Gulf, shared criss-crossing by manyimportance nations. of The kingfish commercial in the regiondecisions requires are that implemented informed to management ensure optimaloccur, valid sustainability. For scientific this data to on biologicalare requirements needed. and Scientific stock studies structure are underfish way stock to is determine shared just by how neighbouring this states in the Arabian Gulf. EAD T KINGFISHDNASTUDY THEEMIRATES–ANATURALHISTORY

last three decades have seen increased use of fisheries and ABOVE: A pearling boat at Abu Dhabi in the 1950s marine resources in the UAE. During this period, the traditional sector has substantially invested in modern degradation, and over-fishing have been raised (Carpenter et al. fishing fleets, while there has also been a significant increase in 1997). The recently completed report undertaken by the other uses of fisheries and marine resources. The advent of a Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), formerly ERWDA, in modern way of life and a growing tourism industry has augmented Abu Dhabi, in association with the UAE Ministry of Agriculture and the use of fisheries and marine resources for recreation. Fisheries, and the Australian/New Zealand consultants, Bruce Furthermore, marine and coastal habitats are being subjected to Shallard Ltd, has highlighted some of these issues. Since 1978 the impacts of unprecedented urban and industrial development there has been a major decline in the stocks of both commercial in the country. and non-commercial fish. This cannot be simply explained by All this has inevitably led to concern regarding the . The destruction of important marine habitats by sustainability of the use of the fisheries resources. In particular, activities such as dredging has had a major impact on fisheries questions pertaining to depletion of the fish stocks, habitat within Gulf waters.

2 7 0 MARINEFISH 2 7 1 . et al et al. 1992: The vertical distribution of abundance and diversity of fish on Knowledge of the Arabian pelagic system is very patchy, with fixation. Heavy grazing by fish andthese echinoderms territories in result areas in outside dominance byalgae. Migrations by nitrogen foraging fixing fish help blue-green to form importantfor pathways nutrient transfer within and among reef habitats (Sheppard 217). Many of the larger fish,in such the as hot kingfish summer and months, tuna eitherwaters disappear on retreating to the the Iranian deeper, Gulf cooler coast,via or Musandam perhaps into even the exiting Gulf thebeing of Gulf undertaken Oman. using New satellite research is tagging and currently the DNA seasonal analysis movements to of test particular fishrelationship to taxa and different fish the communities in(see neighbouring page states 269). 1992: 107). reefs is very uneven. Species richness generally increases downdepth to of a about 10–15 metres before decreasing with increasing depth. A complex range of factorsincluding influence environmental reef stress composition, such as wavetemperature action, fluctuations, turbidity, salinity, food supply, andcomplexity the of structural the reef. much conflicting and incomplete data (Sheppard Mangroves, shallow coastal waters, including lagoons and seagrass Coral reefs are also an important ecosystem under threat. FISHECOLOGYANDECOSYSTEMSIt is undisputed that habitatspecies exerts are a able major to live influence in on a which of particular place. fisheries Effective management can only beapproach achieved is if used. Future a conservation strategies unified have to ecosystem-based encompass the protection of ecosystems which playfisheries. An an important important point role in to bearrespect in national mind or is international that boundaries. Almost fishfish all do have a tropical not pelagic larval dispersalplankton phase. for Larvae days drift or with weeks the before1980). settling Since onto many a stocks reef are (Sale sharedmeans by that several only countries, through this theand co-ordination of international regional, bodies national can effectiveprotect measures fisheries be resources. taken to beds, represent some of the mostmany important fish nursery in grounds the for region. Unfortunately,habitats it that, is in precisely many these cases, arecoastal under development. threat due to modern Fish play an important role infish many by reef defending processes. their Herbivorous territories help to increase rates of carbon PELAGICGAMEFISHERIES

RECREATIONAL FISHING IS A POPULAR and widespread in recreational fishing and revenue generation in pastime in the UAE, both in the Arabian Gulf the tourism sector. While swordfish are present, and Gulf of Oman waters. A wide variety of they are rarely caught. Known for their speed fishing methods are employed, although and jumping ability, sailfish are a popular handlines and rod and reel use are most recreational game fish wherever they are found. prevalent. There are also fishermen (mostly The recent rapid development of tourism, UAE nationals) practicing traditional artisanal particularly in Abu Dhabi and Dubai emirates, fishing methods at weekends, under the guise has resulted in rising demands for watersport of recreational fishing, often using traps activities, including recreational fishing. Foreign (garagir) as well as handlines. The recent tourists already travel to the UAE solely for the implementation of UAE Federal Law No. 23 for pursuit of sailfish. Associated with this growth 1999 relating to fishing practices has restricted are tag and release tournaments, which are recreational fishing to the use of attended becoming increasingly popular (Hoolihan 2002). handlines or rods and reels only, and require Catch and release and tagging are widely all users to possess a valid licence. Fishing from practiced by private anglers and charter operators. both shore and vessel are widely practiced. Game fish anglers in Dubai have in fact THEEMIRATES–ANATURALHISTORY However, for pursuit of larger pelagic game voluntarily operated a sailfish tag and release species, fishing from vessels is the primary programme since 1983, while more recently, choice. Trolling is the most popular method of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EA–AD) angling for larger pelagic game fish. Dead baits, (formerly ERWDA), has started distributing tags live baits and artificial lures are all used. to fishermen. This has permitted study of the Numerous species are found in local waters migratory movements and growth patterns of and readers are directed to available literature Arabian Gulf sailfish. Each small plastic tag detailing the region (Al-Abdessalaam 1995; consists of a nylon dart that is implanted into the Carpenter et al. 1997; Randall 1995; Kuronuma muscle of the sailfish. This is accomplished and Abe 1986; Assadi and Dehghani 1997). when the fish is brought alongside the vessel. Popular species pursued by recreational anglers Attached to the dart is a plastic streamer with include the pickhandle barracuda Sphyraena printed information including: return address, jello, cobia Rachycentron canadum and phone number and tag serial number. jacks/trevallies such as the Talang queenfish Additionally, a tag data card with corresponding Scomberoides commersonnianus, orange-spotted serial number is filled out by the fisherman. trevally Carangoides bajad, golden trevally This card records information on the Gnathanodon speciosus and giant trevally Caranx fisherman’s name, date, location and estimated ignobilis. By far the most favoured group is the weight of fish and remarks. Tag recaptures have tuna and tuna-like species. Within this group are revealed a springtime spawning migration of members of the family Scombridae including this species from UAE Gulf waters leading north- kingfish Scomberomorus commerson, kawakawa north-west further into the Gulf (Hoolihan Euthynnus affinis, longtail tuna Thunnus 2001b). Further details of movements by this tonggol and, to a lesser extent, yellowfin tuna species and its habitat preferences are being T. albacares. The sailfish Istiophorus platypterus determined through deployment of satellite pop- is also included in this group. All of these up tags. Each tag can be pre-programmed to species are classified as highly migratory by release from the sailfish on a chosen date. the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of At release time, the tag contacts an Argos satellite. the United Nations. For the most part, they are Data is then uploaded to the satellite and is re- seasonally resident in the UAE during the routed back to EAD via e-mail. The data winter months, October to April. Additionally, includes location as well as archive readings most of these species represent so-called straddling stocks, as they on water temperature and depth recorded during the sailfish’s journey. traverse political boundaries. Pop-up location data enable scientists to ascertain seasonal movements Management measures aimed at protecting fisheries are important for of this population during periods when no conventional tag data is maintaining species diversity, sustainable fishing and ecosystem stability. available. Water temperature and depth data provides valuable information The sailfish is the sole member of the billfish group (which also includes that is useful in understanding the preferential habitat and ecosystem marlins, spearfish and swordfish) to be caught in the Arabian Gulf on a requirements of this species. regular basis (Hoolihan 2001a), and plays an increasingly important role John Hoolihan

2 7 2 MARINEFISH 2 7 3 FISHINGMETHODS metres in length, powered by 150–300 horsepower inboard diesel Fisheries in the UAE involve many species and species groups and engines. Dhows typically fish with baited basket traps, known employ different types of fishing equipment and methods, deployed locally as gargoor, (plural garagir), trawls, hook and line and trolling from various types and sizes of fishing vessels. The methods used lines. Drift nets used to be a dominant fishing method, especially can broadly be divided into commercial fisheries, using wooden for large pelagic species. These nets, known as al hayali, are now dhows locally known as lansh (from the English word ‘launch’), banned by law, except in tightly-regulated circumstances. fibreglass boats, traditional methods and recreational fishing. Trap fishing using garagir is the most common fishing method. A variety of fish are caught, including sharks and rays, seacatfish, Formerly made from interwoven palm fronds, the traps are now lizardfish, flatheads, groupers, jacks, mojarras/silver-biddies, manufactured from galvanised steel wire of 1 to 1.5 millimetres angelfish, grunts, parrotfish, wrasses, rabbitfish, barracudas, thickness, imported from the Far East. Garagir are usually made as ponyfish (), snappers, threadfin bream, emperors, dome-shaped traps with a base diameter of between 1–3 metres seabream, goatfish, turbots (Psettodidae), flounders (Bothidae and supported by reinforced steel bars and a funnel-like entrance. Paralichthyidae) and tonguesoles (Cynoglossidae). A combination of Two types of garagir are operated – smaller traps (180 centimetres over-exploitation resulting from inadequate fisheries management in diameter and 90 centimetres in height) are used in shallower and degradation of the environment has been a major cause of waters, between 4 and 40 metres depth by fishermen mostly using THEEMIRATES–ANATURALHISTORY the overall decline in fish stocks in the area. Environmental fibreglass boats; larger traps (250 to 300 centimetres in diameter degradation includes the elimination of important nursery areas and 150 to 180 centimetres in height) are used by lanshs, larger by land reclamation and dredging in coastal areas, and increased dhows, in offshore deeper waters at depths ranging from 60 to 200 marine pollution by discharge of liquid and solid wastes into the metres. Polystyrene or plastic marker buoys are generally used to marine environment (Chiffings 2000). mark their location. These traps are usually set in the afternoon and The dhow-based fishery, responsible for the majority of the fish are retrieved after three or four days in the early morning. commercial fishing in UAE waters, comprises mostly small A variety of baits are used inside the traps, including green algae commercial operations. Wooden dhows are usually about 12–20 (Enteromorpha), ground dry fish, dead fish and bread. The majority

2 7 4 MARINEFISH 2 7 5 was al. kaber . oumla hadrah and rabbitfish. , used particularly for Caranx ignobilis, lafah , a nylon line with 4–8 shab ,yaroof can be up to 40 metres , are sometimes used which may , is specifically used for the capture Mugil cephalus al, katra including a sharp metal unit hadaq Fishing by hook and line, known locally Apart from gillnets, two other types of areas. Other shore-based fishing equipment used includes beach seines andtraps, barrier known locally as as of groupers, cobias, jacks/trevallies, grunts, emperors, sea bream and Spanish mackerel. Long-lines, known locally as manshalla have 10–20 extra smaller lines andThese hooks. are said to be goodrequiem sharks for and groupers. catching Another local variant is shorter lines and hooks which(small have lures feathers or pieces ofmaterial) coloured fastened to them. Another method used from moving boats is aknown locally trolling as line, fishing nets are used. Beach seines, known locally as or more in length. Onemoved end rapidly of from the the shore seine in a is widein arc an effort to surround fishthe seine both then ends being pulled of to shore. Fishing by this method remains fairly commonthe on UAE’s East Coast, and canexample, at be Fujairah seen, and for Dibba, the fishermen often being accompanied by large flocks of feeding gullsSpeedboats and with terns. outboard motors and four-wheel drive vehicles are used todaypull to these seine nets totraditionally the this was shore, done but by a large group of men. This method wasat especially flathead catching good mojarras/silver-biddies, mullets Many other fish are also caught,small including needlefish and jacks/trevallies. Istiophorus. platypterus inserted into another metal unit called al jalala , and a wooden spear, Several other methods of fishing have become obsolete in barracuda, narrow-barred Spanish mackerel, tuna and occasionally sailfish recent years, including a kind ofoumla harpoon, known locally as called the capture of larger fish like giant trevally This latter section has aspecifically float used attached for to the it. spearing The tuna, of narrow-barred large Spanish pelagic mackerel fish and such wasto as occasionally spear used cetaceans. )shaeri and grunts. , snappers, sea bream, include jacks such as the is garagir al hayali which is a special drifting gillnet, and hook Euthynnus al liekh, often set on the bottom. al hayali target species such as groupers (known garagir al hayali, Seriolina nigrofasciata spp.). The net was garagir .houri Shore-based fishing Thunnus ,hamour) emperors (known locally as and Another fishing method, also used from dhow-based fisheries, Inshore fisheries usually use fibreglass of the catch (over 80 perthese cent) traps. Large at the present time is caught using locally as These catch a variety of fish,emperors, goatfish, rabbitfish, pomfrets including (Stromateidae) and grunts, others. sea bream, A further of gillnet, Other important species caught in black-banded trevally parrotfish and rabbitfish. are gillnets, known locally as was formerly used during the wintercapture, in to particular, the narrow-barred Spanish mackerel, abundant at that time. Other fish generally captured by included cobias, barracuda jacks/trevallies, and tuna (Scombridae, mostly affinis either allowed to drift freely orone fixed end on so that themove other with end the was tides. free Fish to werethey caught moved as into the path ofnet. the As moving noted above, use of now restricted speedboats with twin outboard engines, these having been introduced since the early 1970s, replacing traditional wooden craft known as is mostly carried out with and line along rocky shores andmore often jetties along or, beaches or intertidal Also sometimes used is the bell-shaped landward side of the wall. Sometimes the cast net, known locally as salieya, which walls extend outwards from the coastline has small weights around its base to make like giant pincers, to channel fish into it sink. This is only used at times of year restricted shallower waters, for example on when fish such as the Indian oil sardine the west coast of Dalma. Other traps consist Sardinella longiceps and flathead mullets of a stone wall running perpendicular to are abundant in shallow inshore waters. the shoreline, the seaward end terminating Hadrah were traditionally built by in a circular or oval-shaped enclosure; driving a row of palm fronds and wooden several examples are found off the small stakes into the sediment supported by islands just to the west of Abu Dhabi Island. stones at their base. A frond fence was Determining the age of these ancient fish then placed between these stakes out traps is difficult, since there is rarely little, towards the outer circular/pentagonal if any, archaeological material directly enclosure, which in turn surrounded an associated with them. As many are situated inner chamber. With the receding of the in the present intertidal zone it seems likely THEEMIRATES–ANATURALHISTORY tide fish were thus channelled by the that the majority belong to the Islamic or wings of the trap into first an outer, then recent pre-oil period. It is possible, however, an inner chamber. Such traps are typically that some of them may date from much used in shallow inshore waters throughout earlier periods. the Arabian Gulf. In some locations in the western coastal region Modern hadrah are usually made with steel or iron poles and wire of Abu Dhabi these barrier traps were made from rocks. Such mesh or nylon netting. In the UAE, these traps are traditionally examples could once be seen on the west coast of Dalma Island, used, especially during the summer months, to catch the blackspot and still exist on the islands of Qarnein, Ghagha’ and the Yasats snapper Lutjanus fulviflamma. Other typical kinds of fish caught (Beech 2003). These stone traps take a variety of forms; some of using this method include needlefish, jacks/trevallies, sea bream, them are semi-circular walls enclosing small bays, for example on mullets, barracuda and rabbitfish. Other bottom species may also the north-west coast of Ghagha’. A gap in the wall was blocked as be occasionally caught in these traps. Other variants of tidal barrier the tide receded, trapping all the fish in the shallow water on the traps also exist in the UAE, such as a wide fence of nets linked by

2 7 6 MARINEFISH 2 7 7 fishing nets in Abu Dhabi hayali Dugong dugon, dolphins and turtles. The nets also In April 2000, a regulation stipulating that no fishing boat is waters. Each fishing boat formerly carriedwhich 20 often to caught 50 and drift drowned nets, endangereddugong species such as damaged commercial fish stocks, catching fishbrought that to were market not or fish ofthe no law commercial is use. being Enforcement undertaken of bypatrols, the the UAE Frontier Navy, and police, Coastguard therelevant municipalities agencies, and including other EAD, and heavybeen penalties prescribed have for violators of theremain, new however, such legislation. as Problems the still removallucrative of trade fins with from the sharks Far for East.population This of has the decimated Arabian the Gulf shark in recent years. sinking 100 ‘caves’ at the edge of theIn Aqqa February Reserve (Tawfik 2000b). 2001, experiments were carriedcheaper out type of using triangular-shaped cave a made of new palmtogether leaves and woven held in place by iron gridsAlthough and such rope reefs (Shaghouri 2001). may appear toof encourage marine the resources development in the shortestablished within term, protected however, they areas need which to arepatrolled, be themselves to regularly prevent targeting by fishermen. allowed to sail without the owneras or provided a for in national Federal captain Law onFishing No. board, boats 23 are of now 1999, only was permittedowner introduced. or to sail captain is if aboard. their The national stop Frontier any and boat Coast that Guard violates patrols thisthe rule. use Article of 26 fixed of or the drifting law banned ,dafaf is spp.) and flathead mullets. . This may be stretched across narrow sakkar Acanthopagrus ,sakkar and this may catch fish such as sea Recreational fishing in the region is growing rapidly, and is Another method now being used to try to stem the depletion of wooden posts called largely carried out from small motorboatsclose operating to relatively shore. A licensing systemwhether for from all boats recreational or fishing, from theEmirate of shore, was Abu introduced Dhabi in in the 23 2002, for as 1999 a on by-law under Exploitation, Protection and FederalMarine Development of The Bio-Resources. Law licences No. for recreational fishingonly allow two methods, handline and rodthe and age reel. of All 18 fishermen must over a obtain week, a although licence, valid children either can for continuea a to licence year fish holder. Recently or in a for the new companyfishing licence of licence category, to the cater traditional for nationalunder fishermen either who commercial or do recreational not fishingintroduced. fall categories Competent authorities in was each emirate are responsible for licensing. In Abu Dhabi, licencesrecreational for fishing both are commercial issued and by EAD,1,000 with being an set upper on limit commercial of licences. PROBLEMS,SOLUTIONSANDNEWLEGISLATIONOne serious problem affecting fishof stocks in fishing the traps and region is nets. Their thefishing’, accidental loss whereby loss they continue leads trapping to fish ‘ghost are on not the lifted seabed, and but emptied.from According to the information fishermen’s provided co-operatives, inshore fishermenbetween may 7 lose to 12 traps peroperate month, between 150 whilst to big 200 dhows generally trapsper with month a (Tawfik 2000a). loss Fishermen of also 20the sometimes to traps do 25 to not traps their link buoys toto avoid relocate them. thefts The and small traps may may subsequently takemonths anything fail between to 5 corrode to and 7 deteriorate atthus depths continuing of to 4 trap fish to 40 formethod some metres, that time has after been they utilised aredevelop in lost. fastenings other for One parts the of doors the todecompose world, fish after is traps a to which certain naturally periodfish of to time, thus escape. allowing trapped fish stocks has been the creation of artificialhave reefs, several been of established which by decree ofUAE the East Ruler Coast, of following the Fujairah on originalas the designation marine of reserves three by areas the RulerAl of Faqit near Fujairah in Dibba, 1995. was established Theapproximately in first, 8 February at metres 1998 of in water andMarine Reserve, in the around second 4 at metres of the water, to Aqqa lost protect fishing coral from nets. The third reef was created at the end of 2000 by estuaries or gaps in lagoons. Thiscapture of is mojarras/silver-biddies particularly and used gold-striped in seabream Rhabdosargus the . sarba Sometimes a second fence,added the behind the bream (in particular, LEFT: Fish farming BELOW: White-spotted spinefoot Siganus canaliculatus

In 1999, the International Fish Farming Company, ASMAK, was set up under the UAE Offsets Programme, with a total capital of 300 million UAE dirhams. The company specialises in fish and shrimp farming and has 31,000 investors and shareholders from different emirates. Its projects include the Middle East’s largest commercial hatchery for finfish, in Umm al-Qaiwain, and other facilities at Dibba in Fujairah, and in Ra’s al-Khaimah, the latter two having a combined capacity of 3,200 tonnes of fish. One of the objectives of the company, which also operates in Oman and Kuwait, is to replace wild-caught fish, thus reducing the pressure on fish stocks. Fish farming is likely to be developed further in the future and THEEMIRATES–ANATURALHISTORY both ASMAK and the MRRC at Umm al-Qaiwain are active in promoting the industry.

FISHERIESSTUDIES–PREVIOUSWORK The Arabian Gulf is a comparatively young sea which originated about 16,000 years BP (Sheppard et al. 1992). Sea level in the Gulf is generally believed to have not reached its present level until around 6,000 years BP, during the Holocene period. All fish species found in the Gulf originally penetrated from the Indian Ocean through the Gulf of Oman and Straits of Hormuz. Although high AQUACULTURE levels of endemism have been suggested, in fact, only a very low The focal point of aquaculture in the UAE is the Marine Resources number of species exist solely within the Gulf. Kuronuma and Abe Research Centre (MRRC) of the Ministry of Agriculture and (1986: 298) report that only 7 (1.5 per cent) out of a total of 465 Fisheries, based in Umm al-Qaiwain. Founded in 1978 under the species, which they recorded as being present within the region, are terms of a technical cooperation programme between the UAE endemic species. Most species present (89 per cent) are derived and Japan, it began operations in 1984, and has succeeded in from both the Indian and Pacific Oceans, a smaller number developing a suitable technology for growing rabbitfish, Siganus (11 per cent) being restricted to the Indian Ocean, or the 1.5 per canaliculatus and S. javus, from induced spawned eggs to cent from the Gulf. marketable size fish (Department of Fisheries 1984). Work has also Despite the fact that marine ecological research in the region been carried out on shrimp farming, both at Umm al-Qaiwain dates back as far as Forsskål on the Danish expedition of 1775, and on Abu al-Abyadh Island in Abu Dhabi. comparatively little is still known about the Arabian Gulf marine fauna. Although there have been a number of publications specifically concerning Gulf fish (e.g. Al-Baharna 1986; Al-Sedfy 1982; Kuronuma and Abe 1972, 1986; Relyea 1981; Sivasubramaniam and Ibrahim 1982; White and Barwani 1971) these have recently been criticised for including many records based on old literature rather than on actual specimens (Randall 1995). Although there has been some work on the identification of fish in the western Indian Ocean region (e.g. Randall et al. 1978; Fischer and Bianchi 1984), and some checklists have been published for the region (e.g. Jennings 1997a–g), there are no up-to-date accurate lists of taxa available for each of the Arabian Gulf states. One problem with the available literature is the plethora of names and synonyms which exist for Arabian Gulf fish taxa, this being

2 7 8 MARINEFISH 2 7 9 et al. (1987) found only 72 species et al. . (1984) and Coles and Tarr (1990) . 1994), while a subsequent detailed et al 1997). This includes 17 families of the et al et al. 1980; Ali and Cherian 1983), consisting of landing (1977), McCain et al. (Carpenter et al. FAO Species Identification Field Guide for Fishery Purposes for Several fish landing surveys were carried out two decades ago Fieldwork carried out by a group of fisheries scientists led by One of the most comprehensive recent attempts to systematically A survey by Iddison (1998) of the Al Ain fish market, well inland in reefs off the coast of Bahrain.1992) Roberts (quoted observed in only 35 Sheppard species during a 10-hourinshore observation reefs of in comparatively Qatar. little Unfortunately, is known about the fish fauna ofpublications the that exist UAE suggest, Gulf that however, the coastline. number The of fewpresent species popular is also low in number (Dipper and Woodward 1989). by the UAE Ministry of Agriculture1979; and Ali Fisheries (Ali and Thomas Basson only 70, 101 and 106 speciesGulf) respectively coast of along Saudi the Arabia. Smith east (Arabian data from Khor Fakkan and Kalbamany on non-commercial the fish East species Coast. are However, notare included, given for and discarded no by-catch. data Furthermore,do such not landings provide data adequate samples fromall all species coastal for habitats statistical and analysis of to be undertaken. John Randall identified a numberwithin of the fish region (Randall hitherto unrecorded study of fish in Oman identified 930region, fish species with within at the whole least 95as families and present within 361 species the being Arabian recorded Gulfis (Randall clearly 1995). required. Further work update the and list of fish occurringthe in the Arabian Gulf is Kuwait, Eastern Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, andEmirates the United Arab , (sharks, rays and skates), includingand 46 101 species, families with 493 species of (bony fish). from both the Arabian Gulf and Gulffrom of Oman both coasts, coasts, but revealed supplied that a wide variety of fish were sold. et al. (Randall 1995), by Carpenter Coastal Fishes of Oman 1988). The harshness of the environmental et al. FAO Field Identification Guide : C. melapterus : Chaetodon nigropunctatus There does appear, however, to be some variation in species The few systematic fisheries surveys carried out in the Arabian ABOVE BELOW (1997), have fortunately summarised many of these and represent the most recent attempts to update the taxonomyof and fish description in the region. Various opinions existnumber concerning the of precise fish species presentclear within that the many Arabian earlier Gulf records and areAlso, it many questionable is published accounts (Randall do 1995). not provide detailed distribution data and it is notoccurs possible in to the determine Arabian if Gulf a orRelyea particular 1981; in species White the and Gulf Barwani of 1971). Oman or in both (e.g. richness throughout the Gulf, theGulf deeper and waters of along the the northern Iranianthe coastline southern being region, richer in in which speciesStudies the than have Gulf shown that waters habitat of area (MacArthur the and Wilson UAEand 1967) lie. its differentiation into zones can(Goldman affect and species Talbot 1976; richness Roberts 1986).demonstrated It that has trends also in been butterfly fishabundance in species the richness Red Sea and correlate closely withpatterns reef (Roberts development conditions in the Gulf, i.e. extreme temperatures and highcertainly salinity, appear to inhibit reef growth1988), (Downing and 1985; it Sheppard is likelywithin that the this region. has A reduced further speciesyouth explanation richness of is the that Gulf the has comparative sufficient also time meant to that develop. diversification has not had Gulf using SCUBA-equipped observers have largelyon concentrated reef fish assemblages. These appearelsewhere in to the be Indian Ocean, far or less even in diverselatitude. Downing the than (1987) Red counted only Sea 85 at species the on same Kuwaiti reefs. further complicated by many misidentifications. Thepublication recent of Randall’s along with the More than 170 species are listed, were the orange-spotted grouper although some of the unusual species Epinephelus coioides, the orange-spotted may have been brought in, packed in ice, jack Carangoides bajad, the spangled from Oman and further afield emperor Lethrinus nebulosus, the king A recent review of the demersal fisheries soldierbream Argyrops spinifer and the of the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman and double-bar seabream A. bifasciatus. Arabian Gulf has noted the presence of The study showed that a large proportion over 350 commercial fish species (Siddeek of the landed catch included immature et al. 1999). Primary families represented fish, suggesting over-exploitation of the were emperors, sea bream, groupers, fish stocks. rabbitfish, croakers (Sciaenidae), pomfrets, Implementation of new legislation and snappers, cutlassfish (Trichiuridae) and the ensuring of better fisheries threadfin breams. Fishing effort in the management will require the provision Arabian Gulf was observed to be above the of adequate and accurate information optimum level (i.e. over-fishing was about the UAE’s fisheries and marine THEEMIRATES–ANATURALHISTORY considered to be taking place), and they resources. To this end, EAD (formerly suggest that reduced fishing effort, ERWDA) launched a survey in February strictly enforced closed seasons and 2002 to assess the fish and marine closed areas are urgently required. resources of the UAE, this being In 2000 there were 578 licensed fishing undertaken in association with the boats working in Abu Dhabi waters. Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, These boats were owned by 486 nationals and the Australian/New Zealand and were operated by 4,397 expatriate fishermen. Around 30,273 consultants, Bruce Shallard Ltd. Some of the key outputs of this tons of fish was landed during 2000. The relative percentages of survey, completed early in 2003, include information on species the main fish families landed at Abu Dhabi fishing port in 2000 identification, a catalogue of all species captured, and biological are as follows: emperors were the most commonly exploited fish statistics such as length/frequency data for the key species. (34 per cent); followed by groupers (21 per cent); grunts (9 per Catches and catch rates were also recorded for each documented cent); tuna/mackerel (9 per cent); and other fish (27 per cent). species. This work was carried out from a research vessel that traversed the coastal waters of the UAE undertaking habitat FISHERIESSTUDIES–NEWWORK mapping and sampling. By October 2002, a total of 587 small A major study has recently been carried out of major economic fish pelagic and demersal species from 78 families had been species in Abu Dhabi waters. Initiated by the Marine Environmental identified and documented. Research Centre (MERC), part of EAD (formerly ERWDA), this Part of the survey was concerned with determining the ages of compiled length-frequency data study of five fish species collected the fish sampled, this being conducted by an analysis of otoliths from Abu Dhabi Free Port Fish Landing site between June and other detailed biological date from eight key commercial 2000–June 2001 (Al Abdessalaam, in press). These five species species. The fish studied were the orange-spotted grouper, spangled

2 8 0 MARINEFISH 2 8 1 Four small marine reserves have so management tool. Protection should also be afforded to mangroves, lagoons, seagrass beds, reefs and islands along the coastline, which are important breeding grounds for fisheries. Without a network of such protected areas, there is little hope ofresources protecting for future generations. far been established on the UAECoast East to enhance coral reef formation, these being managed by Dibba Al-Fujairah Municipality in co-ordination with the Ministry of AgricultureFisheries. and The Marawah MPA was also established in 2002 in Abucovering Dhabi, an area of 4,255 square kilometres (including some islands and a stretch of mainland coastline) from the northern tip of theal-Abyadh island out of to Abu Bu Tinah shoalsarea to west an of the island ofGharbi. Bazm Plans al- are under way to include Mark Beech, Thabit Zahran Al Abdessalaam and John Paul Hoolihan the island of Abu Althe Abyadh and MPA, which its will surrounding increase waters the asAn area part elaborate to of management 5,561 plan square is kilometres. MPA now and in consultations place with for potential the partners Marawah under are way currently to develop a cooperativethe system area. of The management value for of ‘no-take’completely zones, prohibited, where has fishing been is muchfrom discussed, a but number it of is studies clear without that, fishing, even after stocks just can a successfully fewhowever, replenish. a years There need is, to establish integratedArabian MPA Gulf networks for region. the and other rare D. dugon , , snubnose Gnathodon , orange- Lethrinus L. lutjanus Acanthopagrus P., sordidus king , gold-lined Plectorhinchus S., undosquamis , and backtail Scolopsis, taeniatus tumbil, E. areolatus Sphyraena qenie. Rhabdosargus sarba Lethrinus borbonicus, Gerres acinaces Effective management of resources of such complexity Since the Arabian Gulf is a complete biogeographic province, it spotted jack, golden trevally ,speciosus bigeye snapper mojarra seabream areolate grouper emperor, pink-ear emperor barracuda invariably involves an array of objectivesmanagement encompassing techniques. various Recently, however, a number of measures have been taken to providecountry’s better marine management resources, of one the such keyenactment measure of being the the 1999 Federal Lawdevelopment for and the exploitation conservation, of fisheries and marine resources. is therefore an area of globalmajor importance. conservation It area has for global the status dugong as a ,lentjan trout thicklip emperor blackstreak bream white-spotted rabbitfish/spinefoot Siganus canaliculatus pictus, sordid sweetlip soldierbream, double-bar seabream, and yellowfin seabream latus. Biological and size frequency data were also collected from a furtherspecies 12 which either constitute potential commercial species or which madea up significant portion of thesurvey. catch These in 12 the species include the greater lizardfish brushtooth lizardfish and endangered species, particularly cetaceans andturtles. marine The establishment of Marine Protectedbeen Areas demonstrated (MPAs) as has a particularly successful fisheries