Eritrea's Coastal Marine and Island Biodiversity Conservation Project

5.1.2. Threats to corals
In most cases, the corals are away from human influence and hence relatively unaffected, except near the most important urban centres of Massawa
and Assab. The coral reefs contribute to the livelihood of the coastal communities, through artisanal fisheries, ornamental fish collection (till 1997) and
trade of other reef products. Current threats mainly arise from rapid coastal development like fisheries and fishing infrastructures, tourism, oil
exploration, sedimentation as result of land reclamation, road construction and coastal population increases due to the establishment of new settlements.
The major threats, including permanent and occasional, are presently located near existing settlements such as the city-ports of Massawa and Assab
and include:
- Destructive fishing activities such as trawling in shallow waters;
- Solid waste disposal, sewage from septic tanks or local activities;
- Occasional oil spill (oil terminal, boat, petrol station or wreck dismantling),
- Effluents from desalination station or power plants (temperature and chemicals)
- Dust for industrial activities (cement dust); or,
- Curios collections (shells, corals).
In addition, corals are also threatened by natural factors such as the crown of thorns starfish, sea urchins or drupella infestation or from or human
induced impacts such as bleaching related to global climate change.
5.2. Sea grasses and Seaweeds
Unlike phytoplankton, sea grasses are plants with well developed roots, stems and leaves. Usually existing in enormous quantities and often
forming large, dense meadows in tropical areas, sea grasses perform a wide spectrum of biological and physiological functions, serving as
nursery, shelter or feeding area for fish, invertebrates, dugong and sea turtles. Sea grass beds also produce sediments from the associated
fauna and interact with coral reefs and mangroves in reducing wave energy and regulating water movement.
The recent findings (ECMIB, 2005-2007) indicate that out of the 60 species existing worldwide, the 10 present in the Red Sea are found in the
Eritrean waters: Thalassia hemprichii, Thalassodendron ciliatum, Halodule uninervis, Syringodiun isoetifolium, Halophila ovalis, Halophila
stipulacea, Cymodocea rotundata and Enhalus acoroides XXX add the two missing. The majority of the shallow intertidal zones in Eritrea are
dominated by Thallasia hemprichii and by Halodule uninervis (co-dominance). Enhalus acoroides stands are also found covering large areas at depths
below 4m in specific sites, such as Norah Island.
State of the Coast Eritrea, 2006-2007 29