Chapter 2: State of the Environment and Policy Response
border the sea, but the level of treatment varies and the capacity is not sufficient to deal with existing loads. In the Gaza Strip (OPT), around 60 per cent of sewage effluents are treated and the remaining 40 per cent are discharged to the sea without treatment due to the limited capacity of wastewater treatment plants. High loads of contamination due to sewage disposal can affect the water quality of the coastal aquifer in Gaza Strip.
The coastal area of Lebanon is exposed to a number of chronic anthropogenic stress factors from untreated sewage and industrial effluents, which can lead to high levels of organic pollutants and human pathogens in many locations. Elevated levels of organic pollution were reported in sediments from Tripoli harbour in Lebanon. Signs of eutrophication including red tides were observed in Kuwait Bay and in the coastal waters of Muscat (Oman), Dhahran (Saudi Arabia), Abu Dhabi (UAE) and Bahrain (Figure 2.3.3).
Heavy metal pollution due to continued industrial, agricultural and domestic discharges from major cities such as Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) and Hodeida (Yemen) into the Red Sea can pose a threat to both marine biota and public health. Activities such as oil extraction, shipping, dredging, recreational boating and fishing in the region also cause pollution of the marine and coastal environment.
Overfishing
Human communities in coastal areas depend mainly on fish and other seafood as their primary source of protein. The rate of exploitation of living marine resources in the region has increased dramatically. Catches of marine fish in the GCC countries, for example, have doubled over two decades (Figure 2.3.1).
The increased demand coincided with mechanisation of the fishing fleets and the introduction of new technology that enhanced fishing capacity, and pressure on the resource base was further exacerbated by habitat loss and fragmentation associated with coastal development. Consequently, most of the fisheries in the area are either fully or overexploited.
Excessive algal growth due to discharges of secondary treated sewage
Credit: AlAnoud Alkhatlan
Overfishing is considered to be responsible for the decrease in landings of major commercial species in recent years in Kuwait. Overfishing in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden has caused declines in catches of finfish, lobsters, scombrids and cuttlefish. Overfishing is also becoming a major threat to the fishing industry in Yemen. Several species are overexploited in the Mediterranean. Due to the high density of fishermen in the Gaza marine zone (723 boats on 660 square kilometres), overfishing is a major threat to the fishing industry.
Climate change
Major threats associated with climate change include the effects of sea level rise and the impacts of increased temperature, salinity and acidification on marine biodiversity.
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