Sharjah signs onto IOSEA Marine Turtle MoU

The Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA) of the Government of Sharjah has announced that Sharjah's Sir Bu Na'air Island, a tropical habitat and nesting place for hawksbill sea turtles, has signed onto the Indian Ocean and South-East Asia region (IOSEA) Marine Turtle Memorandum of Understanding (the MoU).

The IOSEA Marine Turtle Memorandum of Understanding is an intergovernmental agreement maintained under the auspices of the UNEP / Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS).

It aims to protect, conserve, replenish and recover marine turtles and their habitats in the Indian Ocean and South-East Asian region, working in partnership with other participants and organisations.

During a press conference held on Thursday to announce the acceptance of their membership, EPAA officials screened a documentary on the biodiversity of the island, along with a review of its historic, environmental, cultural, geological and scientific importance as one of the main protected marine areas in the UAE.

Hana Al-Suwaidi, Chairperson of EPAA, delivered a presentation during the press conference focusing on the vital historic and civilisational importance of the island and its rich environmental biodiversity, coral and natural life, which led to its status as a participant in the IOSEA Marine Turtle Memorandum of Understanding (the MoU).

Sir Bu Na'air Island is home each year to more than 300 hawksbill turtle nests, the largest nesting population in the UAE. A unique island in the Arabian Gulf that was declared a protected area in 2000, it serves as a breeding ground for sea birds. It also boasts of mountains and a variety of minerals and sandy beaches, with coral reefs extending to its sandy seabed.

The island was identified among five sites in the UAE that are areas of global biological and ecological importance, during the recently concluded regional workshop on Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas (EBSAs) in the North-Western Indian Ocean and the neighbouring Gulf region.

The IOSEA Marine Turtle Memorandum of Understanding (the ‘MoU') puts in place a framework through which States of the Indian Ocean and South-East Asia region, as well as other concerned States, can work together to conserve and replenish depleted marine turtle populations for which they share a responsibility. Major threats to marine turtles include unsustainable exploitation, destruction of nesting and feeding habitats, and unintended killings during fishing operations. The Conservation and Management Plan -- containing 24 programmes and 105 specific activities -- focuses on reducing threats, conserving critical habitat, exchanging scientific data, increasing public awareness and participation, promoting regional cooperation, and seeking resources for implementation of the plan.

The 16 sq. km island was declared a protected area by the Amiri Decree No. 25 issued by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, for the establishment of a protected area on Sir Bo Na'air Island.

According to EPAA's website, the island is characterized by its rich marine life, costal ecology, and high density of turtle nests, as well as resident and migratory birds which live in colonies, in addition to other species, such as gazelles and lizards.

As for its environmental significance, Sir Bo Na'air Island is one of the most important marine protected areas in the United Arab Emirates and the Gulf region, possessing important environmental elements, such as rare geological formations, whose hills are covered with rocks, natural vegetation and marine birds, as well as its coral reef communities with their rich marine biodiversity. The island is also well known for its stunning sandy beaches.

For these reasons, Sir Bo Na air Island has been listed as being of international importance and was included in the Wetlands International Convention (Ramsar) in 2013, in a bid to assure its rich biodiversity and distinguished habitat are maintained.
Source: WAM