Blue Carbon - First Level Exploration of Blue Carbon in the Arabian Peninsula

In regional waters surrounding the Arabian Peninsula, as in the rest of their distribution range, sea turtles face numerous threats to their survival. Significant threats include the loss of nesting beaches due to coastal development, illegal fishing, and by-catch. Sea turtles are also an iconic marine species that hold great significance in tourism development in costal areas. As with any tourism development, sustainable strategies need to be implemented in order to not disturb wildlife breeding and viability. Costa Rica, for example, has benefited significantly both socially and economically from sea turtle viewing and conservation. Fisheries Due to its role in food security, fisheries are the next most important natural resource inArabian Peninsula, second only to oil. Blue Carbon ecosystems are vital to fisheries throughout the region. Mangrove habitats serve as critical nurseries for many commercially important marine species and therefore play a crucial economic well being for fishermen.

Nesting beaches are found throughout the region, in Kuwait, Oman, UAE, Qatar, and Yemen. Significant nesting populations are found on the coastlines of Oman and Yemen. An estimated 30,000 loggerhead turtles nest annually on Masirah Island, Oman.

IUCN lists all five regional turtle species as endangered or critically endangered categories.

Sea turtles in UAE waters are protected by Federal Law No. 23 (Article 28), which prohibits the taking of sea turtles in UAE waters and the collecting of sea turtle eggs. EAD conducts aerial sea turtle surveys of UAE waters.

Photo: © Steven Lutz

Figure 10: Biodiversity and ecosystem services within a restoration model.

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