National monitoring program for biodiversity and non-indigenous species in Egypt January 2016 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS page Acknowledgements 3 Preamble 4 Chapter 1: Introduction 8 Overview of Egypt Biodiversity 37 Chapter 2: Institutional and regulatory aspects 39 National Legislations 39 Regional and International conventions and agreements 46 Chapter 3: Scientific Aspects 48 Summary of Egyptian Marine Biodiversity Knowledge 48 The Current Situation in Egypt 56 Present state of Biodiversity knowledge 57 Chapter 4: Development of monitoring program 58 Introduction 58 Conclusions 103 Suggested Monitoring Program Suggested monitoring program for habitat mapping 104 Suggested marine MAMMALS monitoring program 109 Suggested Marine Turtles Monitoring Program 115 Suggested Monitoring Program for Seabirds 117 Suggested Non-Indigenous Species Monitoring Program 121 Chapter 5: Implementation / Operational Plan 128 Selected References 130 Annexes 141 2 AKNOWLEGEMENTS 3 Preamble The Ecosystem Approach (EcAp) is a strategy for the integrated management of land, water and living resources that promotes conservation and sustainable use in an equitable way, as stated by the Convention of Biological Diversity. This process aims to achieve the Good Environmental Status (GES) through the elaborated 11 Ecological Objectives and their respective common indicators. Since 2008, Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention have adopted the EcAp and agreed on a roadmap for its implementation. First phases of the EcAp process led to the accomplishment of 5 steps of the scheduled 7-steps process such as: 1) Definition of an Ecological Vision for the Mediterranean; 2) Setting common Mediterranean strategic goals; 3) Identification of an important ecosystem properties and assessment of ecological status and pressures; 4) Development of a set of ecological objectives corresponding to the Vision and strategic goals; and 5) Derivation of operational objectives with indicators and target levels. The remaining 2 steps will include: 6) Revision of existing monitoring programs for ongoing assessment and regular updating of targets; and 7) Development and review of relevant action plans and programs. The following decisions were adopted by the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention in order to achieve more effective ecosystems-based management in the Mediterranean: - Decisions IG.17/6: ‘’Implementation of the ecosystem approach to the management of human activities that may affect the Mediterranean marine and coastal environment‘’, adopted by Contracting Parties during the 15th COP (2008), - Decision IG.20/4: ‘’Implementing MAP ecosystem approach roadmap: Mediterranean Ecological and Operational Objectives, Indicators and Timetable for implementing the ecosystem approach roadmap‘’, adopted during the 17th COP (2012), - Decision IG.21/3: ‘’The Ecosystems Approach including adopting definitions of Good Environmental Status (GES) and targets‘’ adopted during the 18th COP (2013), - Decision IG.22/7: ‘’Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Program of the Mediterranean Sea and Coast and related assessment criteria (IMAP)‘’ adopted during the 19th COP (2016). The 19th Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention adopted the Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Program (IMAP), through a participatory process involving Contracting Parties and the scientific community in line with the Decision IG. 21/3. In order to implement the EcAp in synergy with the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), the European Union (EU) is supporting the Southern Mediterranean Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention through financing the EcAp-MED II project (Mediterranean implementation of the Ecosystem Approach, in coherence with the EU MSFD). 4 In light of this, SPA/RAC is committed to assist the Southern Mediterranean countries in the development of national monitoring programs related to biodiversity (EO1) and NIS (EO2)‘’, in line with the IMAP requirements. Objective of the assignment The objective of this assignment is to develop the national monitoring program for biodiversity (EO1) and non-indigenous species (EO2) in Egypt. The national monitoring program must include at least the following sections: - Representative areas/sites to be monitored - National reference list of habitats, species and invasive alien species to be monitored - Monitoring program by common indicator: a. Habitat distributional range b. Condition of the habitat’s typical species and communities c. Species distributional range o Marine mammals o Seabirds o Marine reptiles d. Population abundance o Marine mammals o Seabirds o Marine reptiles e. Population demographic o Marine mammals o Seabirds o Marine reptiles f. Trends in abundance, temporal occurrence and spatial distribution of non-indigenous species (NIS) In order to ease the task on elaborating the national monitoring program, SPA/RAC will provide the following documents to the selected expert: - Guidelines for the development of the national monitoring program, - Table of contents of the national monitoring program, Tasks to be undertaken The consultant should work in close collaboration with the SPA/RAC Focal Point as well as the EcAp-MED II project officer and the national project coordinator. Regular communication and briefings on project progress are recommended. 5 The consultant is required to: - Develop a first draft of the ‘’National monitoring program for biodiversity and non-indigenous species in Egypt‘’, according to the documents provided by SPA/RAC and including the sections described in paragraph 2; - Provide an intermediate draft of the ‘’National monitoring program for Biodiversity and Non- Indigenous Species in Egypt‘’ based on comments made on the first draft by the National IMAP Committee2 and the EcAp-MED II project officer; - Present the intermediate draft of the ‘’National monitoring program for Biodiversity and Non- Indigenous Species in Egypt‘’ during a national consultation workshop. - Elaborate the final version of the ‘’National monitoring program for biodiversity and non- indigenous species in Egypt‘’ taking into consideration the comments made during the national consultation workshop on the intermediate draft. Deliverables 1. First draft of ‘’National monitoring program for biodiversity and non-indigenous species in Egypt‘’; 2. Intermediate draft of the ‘’National monitoring program for Biodiversity and Non-Indigenous Species in Egypt‘’; 3. Final version of the ‘’National monitoring program for biodiversity and non-indigenous species in Egypt‘’. Duration of the assignment The elaboration of ‘’National monitoring program for biodiversity and non-indigenous species in Egypt‘’ will be conducted for a fixed period of fifteen (15) working days. It will start immediately after signing the contract, and long until the provision of the final version based on the comments made on the first draft of the document. Approach The Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Program (IMAP) of the Mediterranean Sea and Coast and related Assessment Criteria was carefully studied to develop the national monitoring program for marine biodiversity and non-indigenous species in Egypt. Similarly, all relevant decisions (IG.1716; IG.2014; IG.21/3 and IG.22.7) that were adopted by the contracting parties to the Barcelona Convention (2008 – 2016) were examined to achieve more effective ecosystems-based management in the Mediterranean. Marine monitoring programs of several countries and regions were reviewed to be considered in the Egyptian monitoring programs. Furthermore, personal contacts with marine monitoring experts were made to provide advice on the Egyptian monitoring program. This has led to a better understanding of the requirements for the monitoring program in terms of what is needed to be done, consultation with different stakeholders (academics, institutions, managers and others), available literature on monitoring of marine and coastal biodiversity, both regionally and internationally. 6 Current state of knowledge of marine biodiversity in Egypt was collected from numerous sources such as SAPBIO, national reports to biodiversity related conventions such as CBD, RAMSAR, CMS, CITES, annual reports of Nature Conservation Sector (NCS) of the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA), recent relevant literature on the marine and coastal biodiversity in the Egyptian Mediterranean. The national monitoring program for biodiversity (EQ1) and non-indigenous species (EQ2) in Egypt is based on guidelines for the development of the national monitoring program provided by RAC/SPA, published works of RAC/SPA for habitat distribution range, species distribution range, population abundance and population demographics of marine mammals, seabirds and marine reptiles, as well as trends in abundance, temporal occurrence and spatial distribution of non- indigenous species (NIS). It was modified, when possible, based on monitoring programs of some countries and regions. This report has followed table of contents of the national monitoring program provided by RAC/SPA secretariat. 7 CHAPTER 1 Introduction The Mediterranean Basin is one of the most highly valued seas in the world. The region comprises a vast set of coastal and marine ecosystems that deliver valuable benefits to all its coastal inhabitants, including brackish water lagoons, estuaries, or transitional areas; coastal plains; wetlands; rocky shores and nearshore coastal areas; seagrass meadows; coralligenous communities; frontal systems and upwellings; seamounts;