Protecting the Gulf's Marine Ecosystems from Pollution

ISBN-13: 9783764379469 / Angielski / Twarda / 2007 / 285 str.

Hans-Jvrg Barth

Opis

The countries of the Arabian Peninsula have undergone a remarkable process of development and social transformation. This has led to increased rates of transport, industrial development, and consumption of water, food, and goods, which in turn, led to significantly increased rates of environmental pollution. Regional conflicts have also taken their toll and contributed to environmental pollution. For example, the 1991 Gulf War Oil Spill, the biggest known marine pollution event in human history, has occurred in the waters of the Gulf. Moreover, the Gulf is the busiest area in the world in view of maritime oil shipment, and one of the undesired consequences are frequently occurring oil spills, and their impacts on the marine and coastal ecosystems, as well as on the fishing and tourism industry. Wind often blows land-based rubbish towards the sea, and it normally accumulates in the inter-tidal zone; driftwood on the ocean s surface, as well as all floating trash also eventually accumulates in the coastal zone. This has led for some beaches in the Gulf to be heavily polluted with garbage. Such a development is not only unsightly, but also prevents certain marine organisms, such as turtles, for example, from landing on the beach. It also contributes for waterfowl and other creatures to get entangled in plastic snares and ropes, and exposes them to a slow and painful death: starvation."

Spis treści

Biogeophysical setting of the Gulf.- The coastal vegetation of the western and southern Gulf – characterisation and conservation aspects.- Impact of oil pollution and increased sea surface temperatures on marine ecosystems and biota in the Gulf.- Integrated management of pollution stress in the Gulf.- Efforts of regional and international organisations in reducing levels of pollution in the Gulf.- Oil pollution preparedness in the ROPME Sea Area.- Remote sensing: A tool for managing marine pollution in the Gulf.- Coastal pollution in Bahrein and its management.- Pollution from sea based sources.- Impacts of seawater desalination plants on the marine environment of the Gulf.- Importance of the freshwater influx from the Shatt-Al-Arab River on the Arabian Gulf marine environment.- The compensation schedule approach for the assessment of oil spill damages to marine resources of the RSA.- The impact of the Gulf War (1990-91) oil release upon the intertidal Gulf coast line of Saudi Arabia and subsequent recovery.- Rapid assessment indicators of oil spill recovery in salt marsh ecosystems.- Shoreline bioremediation after the 1991 Gulf War oil spill.- Evaluation of arid salt marsh restoration techniques.

O autorze

The Gulf is endowed with valuable natural resources and a great biodiversity of plant and animal species. Sustainable living in the Gulf area is dependent upon such resources provided by the sea. Large areas of its coastal zone including important marine habitats are currently threatened by increasing stress on the Gulf ecosystem due to an accelerated coastal development during the last few years. Some of the world's largest landfill and dredging projects are found in the coastal areas, and the open sea contains the world's main crude oil shipping routes. A variety of human impacts are contributing to marine pollution, such as oil, sediments, waste, thermal, chemical, and other forms of pollution.

This volume reviews present sources and levels of pollution in the Gulf, assesses their causes and effects on biota and ecosystems, and identifies gaps and obstacles currently preventing an effective integrated transboundary management of the marine and coastal resources.

Blurb

The Gulf is endowed with valuable natural resources and a great biodiversity of plant and animal species. Sustainable living in the Gulf area is dependent upon such resources provided by the sea. Large areas of its coastal zone including important marine habitats are currently threatened by increasing stress on the Gulf ecosystem due to an accelerated coastal development during the last few years. Some of the world’s largest landfill and dredging projects are found in the coastal areas, and the world’s main crude oil shipping routes pass through the open sea. A variety of human impacts are contributing to marine pollution, such as oil, sediments, waste, thermal, chemical, and other forms of pollution.

This volume reviews present sources and levels of pollution in the Gulf, assesses their causes and effects on biota and ecosystems, and identifies gaps and obstacles currently preventing an effective integrated transboundary management of the marine and coastal resources. It highlights preventive and remedial measures reducing levels of pollution and mitigating adverse impacts.

The book is an important source of information for environmental managers, researchers, administrators, and decision makers, contributing towards an improved environmental management.