Dugong on verge of extinction in the Arabian Gulf

The Peninsula 21 Nov 07;

Qatar has the world’s second largest population of the species.

Doha • Qatar has embarked on a major initiative to protect a unique sea mammal, dugong, which faces extinction in the Arabian Gulf waters.

The Supreme Council for Environment and Natural Reserves (SCENR) will join hands with Emiri Air Force and Dolphin Energy Ltd to conduct a comprehensive study on dugong's habitat, prior to taking steps to protect the species. Qatar expects cooperation of the neighbouring countries Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain in its mission.

The Emiri Air Force will extend full aerial support for the project. A team of international scientists from Five Oceans LLC will offer the scientific support for the project, which also envisages the protection of the sea grass, the habitat of dugongs, which is popularly known as sea-cows.

“This is the first major initiative to protect dugongs. Of course, Qatar had conducted preliminary studies on the species and its habitats in 1980s. However, it was not as comprehensive as the one we are planning now. This time the study will be conducted with the support of international experts and modern equipment,” Ghanem Mohammed Abdullah, Director, Wildlife Conservation, SCENR, told reporters.

Qatar has the world’s second largest population of the species. Only Australia can boast of larger numbers and these are genetically isolated.

Dugongs of the Arabian Gulf region feed almost exclusively on seagrass beds that stretch from eastern shoreline of Saudi Arabia to the UAE emirate of Ras Al Khaimah. However, mindless construction works in the coastal waters have altered much of their range in the borderlines of Qatari waters and most of the Gulf's dugongs now live between Bahrain and Abu Dhabi.

“Qatar is therefore a central part of the dugong's range and this unique mammal is facing serious threat. An immediate intervention is necessary for combating threats from fishing, pollution and its habitat loss,” said Ghanem Mohammed Abdullah. The species like turtles and dolphins will also benefit from the proposed conservation project, as these species also share the same habitat, he added.

Khalifa Saleh Al Naimi of Emiri Air Force said one helicopter would be dedicated for the SCENR mission.

“Dolphin Energy Ltd has been supporting SCENR to carry out a series of environment projects. This is our second major initiative", said Ali Khalifa Alrahbi of Dolphin Energy Ltd.

Khalid Al Enzi, Assistant Wildlife Manager, SCENR, Mohammed Ahmed Al Rumaihi, Coordinator, Wildlife Section, SCENR, environmental experts Dr Eyad M Bahaa, Adel Al Yafei and Dr Rola M Atiyeh, Senior Environmental Specialist, Dolphin energy were also present.