ARTIFICIAL CORAL REEFS: SHARING THE JORDANIAN

UNCLAS AMMAN 008438

SIPDIS

STATE for OES/Oceans
INTERIOR for FWS and for INTERNATIONAL/Washburne

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV JO
SUBJECT: ARTIFICIAL CORAL REEFS: SHARING THE JORDANIAN
EXPERIENCE WITH OTHER RED SEA COUNTRIES



1. Summary: The Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority
(ASEZA) organized and hosted a September 27-29 regional
meeting in Aqaba entitled "Artificial Reefs in the Gulf of
Aqaba." Keynote speaker ASEZA Environment and Health
Commissioner Dr. Bilal Bashir emphasized regional
cooperation, comprehensive planning, and public
participation in confronting environmental challenges.
Eleven participants representing research institutions from
Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Yemen, Egypt, Djibouti, and Jordan
attended the workshop. End summary.

Jordan and Egypt Only Ones with Pilot Projects
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2. Jordan and Egypt are the only Red Sea countries with
artificial reef projects. By rehabilitating damaged reefs
or creating new ones, these projects aim at preserving
marine biodiversity and having positive economic and
cultural impacts. Jordan's pilot project costs USD 30,000
and is fully funded by the Regional Organization for the
Conservation of the Environment in the Red Sea and the Gulf
of Aqaba (PERSGA - www.persga.org). Egypt's project is at a
smaller scale and is funded by a company operating tourist
submarines in the resort city of Hurghada on the Red Sea.

Adopt a Coral
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3. The technique of the Jordan pilot project starts with
designing cement blocks of different shapes, sizes and
weights. These blocks are put in the sea in sandy areas so
they will not affect existing corals. Coral larvae, moved
by currents, attach themselves to the blocks, thus naturally
creating new coral colonies. ASEZA also has a program for
recreational divers called "adopt a coral sapling." The
program uses coral saplings that grew on cans or tires that
were taken out through clean-up campaigns. The corals are
placed on small plastic pieces. Divers can take the coral
via its plastic base and attach it to the underwater cement
blocks.

Comment
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4. Participants thought the pilot project was a success and
they enthusiastically expressed their interest in having
similar artificial reef projects in their countries.
Participating countries are eagerly looking for funding from
the U.S. and other donors for this work.

HALE