Conservationists in Bahrain are making waves when it comes to protecting the shark species that inhabit the kingdom’s waters using eDNA and underwater video systems.
With more people concerned than ever over the protection of approximately 70 species of sharks and rays in Bahrain’s waters, researchers have gathered unprecedented knowledge about these creatures.
Bahrain Centre for Strategic, International and Energy Studies (Derasat) researcher Sawsan Khalaf released an analysis on the number of species in the kingdom’s waters and the challenges they face.
Ms Khalaf
“The Arabian Gulf supports remarkable marine biodiversity, including whale sharks, hammerheads, rays and sawfish, which comprise some of the region’s most vulnerable species,” the analysis said.
“Scientists estimate that more than 40 shark species and 30 ray species inhabit Gulf waters, though many remain poorly studied.
“A 2022 regional assessment recorded 47 shark and ray species in the western Gulf alone, including six critically endangered, six endangered and seven vulnerable species.
“More than 4,000 individual sharks and rays were documented in fish market surveys between 2016 and 2020, with approximately 88 per cent caught using gillnets.
The research described some of the biggest challenges that shark populations face in Bahrain, including a lack of documentation.
“In many parts of the region, scientists still lack reliable baseline data showing which species remain, where they are found, and how populations are changing over time,” it said.
“Surveys conducted in 2012 described populations of species such as tiger sharks, bull sharks and great hammerheads as ‘nearly depleted’.
“Recovery is difficult because they reproduce far more slowly than most fish species. Many sharks do not reach sexual maturity until between seven and 15 years of age.
“Combined with the loss of shallow coastal nursery habitats, depleted shark populations can take decades to recover from sustained fishing pressure.
“Species already living close to their environmental limits are increasingly vulnerable to additional pressures, particularly in shallow coastal habitats that are important to fish and rays.”
In order to counter such threats and face challenges head-on, Nuwat chief executive officer Reem Almealla is on a mission to ascertain their distribution, species composition, seasonality and potential nursery areas.
Nuwat is a research and conservation organisation that enables ecological researchers and conservation scientists to come together and generate the required data to support the country’s environmental and conservation journey.
Efforts are underway thanks to Ms Almealla’s use of eDNA to detect sharks and the use of baited remote underwater video (BRUV) systems.
“The Arabian Gulf is among the largest exporters of shark fins in the world, but little is known about shark populations in Bahraini waters,” she said.
“Nuwat initiated one of the first shark conservation projects in Bahraini waters,” she said.
“Our project aims to provide decision-makers with information about the seasonality, distribution and potential nursery areas of these endangered species in Bahrain to better inform conservation and management actions.
“Alongside planned baited underwater camera surveys at selected sites around Bahrain, our project will use eDNA techniques to detect communities that are potentially missed in fish markets.
“Given the paucity of information about shark populations in Bahrain, this research provides an invaluable tool for the management and conservation of these highly vulnerable populations.”
Ms Almealla said that the project involves local communities through citizen science and serves as a platform called Tadween to provide the core infrastructure and capacity building necessary for shark conservation in what is a first for marine research in Bahrain.
Tadween is a platform for recording observations of plants and animals to produce long-term data that will help scientists build a regional biodiversity database. Photos and videos are uploaded by citizen scientists.
“Regional studies have recorded the presence of critically endangered great hammerheads, halavi guitarfish and green sawfish in the area,” she said.
“What little is known is bad news as, according to fish market studies, the decline in the number of sharks is about 58 per cent.
A seminar called ‘Sharks in Bahrain’ will be held today by the Supreme Council for Environment, where conservation efforts are expected to be highlighted by environmental specialist Jawaher Bunajma.
nader@gdnmedia.bh
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