Coral Reefs of the Red Sea with Special Reference to the Sudanese Coastal Area

Abstract

Several features have favored the development of coral reefs in the Red Sea including the semi-enclosed nature, situation in an arid area with no permanent rivers or significant upwelling, its warm sea water and a reduced tidal range with moderate winds. The fact that the Red Sea coral reefs are the best developed in the western Indian Ocean is not surprising; more than 60 different genera of reef forming corals are found in the Red Sea alone with an exceedingly large recorded number of species. However, reef development varies from north to south in the Red Sea. North of 20oN reefs are well developed, occurring as narrow fringing reefs with steep slopes that drop into very deep water, particularly in the Gulf of Aqaba. South of 20oN the continental shelf widens and therefore reefs are less well developed vertically and often occur in more turbid water. Nevertheless, reef health is generally good throughout the Red Sea, with 30–50 % live coral cover at most locations and more than 50 % total cover on average. General threats to coral reefs and coral communities of the Red Sea include land filling and dredging for coastal expansion, destructive fishing methods, shipping and maritime activities, sewage and other pollution discharges, damage from the recreational scuba industry, global climate change, and insufficient implementation of legal instruments that affect reef conservation such as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The Sudanese reefs consist of three primary coral habitats along the Sudanese coastline: barrier reefs, fringing reefs and the Sanganeb atoll. They are considered to be in moderate to good health, with good fish fauna health. Raised fossil reefs that form coastal cliffs are characteristics of some sites such as Suakin and Dungonab Bay, while Sanganeb Marine National Park and Dungonab Bay–Mukawwar Island are the only MPAs in Sudan. Many of the present problems with coral reef conservation in Sudan are attributed to a lack of law enforcement, a lack of awareness, a weak legal framework, and the absence of surveillance. The crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) Acanthaster planci was not recorded in plague numbers at any of the Sudan reefs. However, in 1999, bleached corals were estimated to cover 14 % of the substrate. In addition to the Jeddah Consolidated Convention, the Red Sea countries have become signatories to a number of international, regional, bilateral or multilateral agreements, and other legal instruments. Each country also possesses a relatively complete set of national laws and regulations. However, the implementation of these remains generally poor, and in some cases, there is no implementation or enforcement. The Regional Organization for the Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (PERSGA) has made significant efforts to assist its member states, including the Sudan, to conserve their coastal and marine ecosystems and key species. Nevertheless, there is a need for further continued research on coral reefs and an information dissemination programme to enhance community participation and awareness.