Preface

Abstract

When Dr. Abdul Nabi Al Ghadban requested I write the preface of this special issue based on the GULF II conference on “The State of the Gulf Ecosystem: Functioning and Services” held at Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), Kuwait, the first thing that crossed my mind was the importance of the Gulf ecosystem for the region and how to make it sustainable. With increasing population pressure and rapid urban development in the region, the stressors on the Gulf are rising. These stressors come in the form of higher salinity, higher temperature, and reduced pH. This affects marine biodiversity, fish and shrimp yields, coral health and fragile ecosystems.The fundamental question that arises is: Are we doing enough to understand and manage the Gulf ecosystem? The sustainability and operation of the Gulf are integral components required for the growth and prosperity of the Gulf States. Most of the needs for power and water are being met. Oil export is not only a life line to the economy of the Gulf, but is also to some extent a contributor to the food supply; hence the issue of Gulf sustainability becomes complex. There are several natural and anthropogenic factors that disturb the ecological balance and which need to be dealt with quickly. It is imperative to commission systematic studies on the Gulf ecosystem in order to understand its functioning, so that we might design solutions and enforce recommendations for making this important resource sustainable.The long term management of the Gulf ecosystem demands all regional, national and local stakeholders to recognize their roles, and work as partners in protecting and improving the Gulf ecosystem's functioning. As a first step towards this approach, KISR, in its 7th Strategic Plan, prioritized research programs on Environmental Management, Marine Fisheries, Coastal Management, and Energy and Water Resources. These programs are geared to understand environmental issues and provide solutions to complex environmental problems in the Gulf to alleviate pressure on marine resources. We are putting forward the approach: “Many Hands, Many Minds, Common Goal—Save the Gulf.”I believe that the sustainably of the Gulf ecosystem, as well as the rest of the world in the 21st century, depends on how well we fare in finding the means of conciliating the two frequently opposed realities of our time: considering the limits which nature presents to us, and using the potential for human material development which intimately relates to nature. This challenge requires politicians, environmental managers, and scientists alike to be creative and innovative in finding solutions.Finally, I compliment the AEHMS editorial staff, the international team of the organizing committee, and the authors for their remarkable achievement in producing a high quality, peer-reviewed, supplemental issue of the journal of Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management, which I believe will be a landmark publication.