Marine conservation starts on Sharjah island

The goal is to use Sir Bu Nair Island as a model for the management of the UAE’s protected marine areas.”

Hana Saif Al Suwaidi, chairperson, EPAA

Environment authorities recently kicked off a three-year conservation project for Sharjah’s Sir Bu Nair Island, a protected nature reserve that used to be a haven for pearl divers and fishermen. The study will pave the way for the development of a national blueprint for marine conservation.

The Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA) of Sharjah, Emirates Nature-WWF and the Emirates Marine Environmental Group (EMEG) launched the Sir Bu Nair Project at Al Majaz Waterfront, raising awareness of the pearl-shaped island’s environmental and cultural significance.

Hana Saif Al Suwaidi, EPAA chairperson, said: “His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, declared Sir Bu Nair Island a protected nature reserve in 2000. Formerly a haven for pearl divers and fishermen, this island is of ecological, historical, cultural and political significance.

“The goal is to use Sir Bu Nair Island as a model for the management of the UAE’s Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). We also plan to emphasise the socio-economic and ecological benefits of conserving marine environments,” said Al Suwaidi.

Recognised as a ‘wetland of international importance’ under the Ramsar Convention, the island has rich, diverse habitats teeming with life, including different species of turtles, birds and coral reefs.

As the conservation project starts this year, researchers are set to explore critical marine habitats and species, including sharks, rays, fish and corals.

The findings of the EPAA, Emirates Nature-WWF, and EMEG will then serve as a blueprint for the sustainable management of all other significant marine areas in the country.