Oceans cover more than 70% of the Earth’s surface and their importance lies in being an essential source of food, alternative energy generation and desalination projects. Qatar has managed and protected the sea environment through legislative and monitoring measures to ensure its sustainability and has played its role in international community’s efforts to deal with environmental challenges. The protected area of the marine environment in Qatar covers more than 2.5% of the country’s total area. The country’s plans include projects that cover many aspects of biodiversity. Qatar has expanded the mangrove areas, surveyed the seaweed cultivation, increased coral reefs, and islands and beaches have been organised for recreational value.
Qatar is one of the richest GCC countries in terms coral reefs with about 48% of the total population in the Arabian Gulf region. In the Arabian Gulf, natural coral reefs have been among the most affected by environmental damage. According to Qatar Marine, coral reefs occupy only 0.7% of the ocean ground, but provide homes and vital nursery grounds for 25% of all marine species on the planet. Reefs also support 4,000 species of fish, 700 species of coral, and thousands of plants and animals.
QatarGas has partnered with local entities to protect coral reefs amid concerns over its depletion around the world. The company is working with Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and Qatar University to implement strategies to protect them. The company and its partners have implemented a Coral Management Programme to preserve the marine environment.
The programme aims at increasing space for marine habitats of the country, protecting coral reefs and supporting the scientific research of QU laboratory in growing artificial coral reefs. The programme is being implemented in four phases. To protect the marine environment and biodiversity, Qatar has launched several initiatives such as beach clean-up, reducing use of plastic and creation of marine protected areas, among others. The Ministry of Environment has announced plans to create marine protected areas that will cover 30% of the country’s water in the next 10 years.
The project aims to ensure the protection of ecosystems and sensitive species for current and future generations, including whales, sharks and dugongs, all of which are crucial for marine environment preservation and eco-tourism. The Arabian Gulf houses the second-largest population of dugongs on the planet, and the largest whale shark concentration in the world. Qatar has adopted a strategic approach for integration between the environment, social and economic governance through the implementation of its Qatar National Vision 2030 strategy and the National Biodiversity Plan 2015-2025.
