Coral reefs - Oman
By Aruna Shaji
The coral reef often described as 'the sea garden' of the world is one of the wonders of the natural world and people have a great passion for this lovely and colorful view inside the sea.
It comes under some of the world's richest ecosystems, second only to tropical rainforests in the diversity of the unlimited number of creatures they support. The least we could do to preserve these treasures is to be aware of their economic, biological and cultural values. Many people mistake reefs to be extended dead rock. But they are actually limestone formations formed in the sea by millions of tiny animals that live in colonies.
They produce a hard calcium carbonate skeleton. When these animals die, their limestone skeletons form foundations of ridges that build up the coral reefs over time. Corals abound in the coastal waters of Oman. The country is blessed with a long coastline extending from the Musandam Peninsula in the North to the borders of Yemen in the South. One of the many reasons why tourists come to Oman is to enjoy its recreational and aesthetic resources underwater. Corals also reveal the past environment of a place, telling stories of evolution through the centuries. They also protect our shores from storms and provide us with delicious food because coral reefs are habitats for a variety of organisms.
The importance of reefs has been recognised by the government of Oman, which has embarked on a far-sighted program to look after the country's reefs; and the people who live in Oman could contribute greatly to the success of the program. The book, A First Look at Coral Reefs of Oman, is a result of constructive efforts and effective partnership between the public and private sectors. It is in line with the Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources' established policy and in accordance with the Royal Directives of His Majesty that conservation and protection of Oman's environment is a joint responsibility shared by all individuals and institutions.
Out of the nearly 1000 species of corals found world-wide, more than 75 species are found in the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea around Oman. The rocky shores of Muscat, near the rocky cliffs of the Musandam peninsula, in the clear waters of the Daymaniyat islands, along the northern Sharkiyah coast, around the Southern shores of Barr al Hikman, around the Masirah island and around the Al Halaniyat Islands in Dhofar, all share some of the most diverse and spectacular coral reefs. Corals grow best in warm and clear waters. Even corals growing many meters below the surface need sunlight for survival. Water that is muddy and polluted tends to smother them. By studying the bands on corals, scientists are able to find out the various temperatures of the sea down the ages.
Near the shores of Muscat too we have reefs that are many hundreds of years old. However, corals are also vulnerable to natural and human factors. In the early 1990s, a whole reef was destroyed by storm in the Sharqiyah coast of Oman. Without reefs many low lying areas like Maldives and Barr Al Hikman of Oman would soon be flooded as sea levels rise. For, reefs are natural sea walls protecting harbors and beaches from heavy wave action during coastal storms. Different species of coral build structures of various sizes and shapes. Corals are described according to the way in which they grow. The five main types of corals that grow in Oman are - Massive, Tablular, Bushy, Encrusting, and Vase-like.
They also differ in fragility and rate of growth. Two types of corals called the Acanthastrea Maxima and Parasimplastrea Simplicitexta are found only in Omani waters and not anywhere else in the world. That accounts for one reason why Oman's reefs are unusual. Along the Al Sharkiyah coast, we have reefs, which are made up of only one type of coral. This offers an incredibly spectacular sight! Some of the old houses in Sharkiyah were built using lime from burning coral skeletons. Corals, shells and other animals use calcium carbonate in their skeletons which eventually gets worn down to leave beautiful white sand. Scientists now find in reefs, natural sources of biomedical chemicals.
Certain extracts offer hopes of curing cancer and certain nerve diseases. Indeed the reefs provide a whole new world for scientists to explore and discover! Corals provide shelter and protection for small fish from the larger predatory fishes. But the Crown-of-Thorns starfish is reported to have caused great damage to coral reefs. Their feeding on living corals results in coral bleaching. During extreme high or low temperature too, the plants that live on their bodies leave the coral thus making the coral look white and bleached. Bleaching is becoming common in certain parts of the world. It is known to occur in the coral colonies in Oman too. Many divers seem unaware of the fragile nature of corals, when they stand or sit on them.
Good buoyancy control is recommended here. Stay off the bottom because stirred-up sediment can settle on corals and smother them. Viewing is fine, but not touching and collecting live corals. Touching corals can wipe off the thin layer of mucous which protects them from bacterial infection. Coral infections can spread quickly, killing entire colonies. Spilling oil or chemicals too cause damage to corals. Suntan oil from swimmers and snorkellers harm sensitive corals. Maintain your boat engine to prevent oil and gas leaks. Over-harvesting of fish harms coral reefs because it removes important species that eat the algae growing on corals. The algae then overgrow and smother the corals. Near shore constructions are also a major cause of near shore coral decline. Abandoned fishing nets also pose a problem.
They settle flat on the reef that get stuck in the net. The waves rip up the net breaking the corals. To prevent this disaster, the case of the lost net should be reported to your Wali, who will inform the Ministry to recover the net. Corals are also damaged when heavy anchors from boats fall directly onto the fragile colony. To avoid this, the anchor should be placed in the sand patches and not on the reef. Dumped wastes that pollute the environment also choke the corals. The year 1997 was declared the 'International Year of the Reef', with the aim of telling people about the importance of reefs and ways to protect them.
Scientists think that upto two thirds of the world's global reefs are currently under threat. About 50 countries have reported coral bleaching since 1977. However, the most recent enemy they say, is global warming!
Oman Observer 31st December 2001
