Muscat: Arabian Sea Whale population found off the coast of Oman is a genetically unique and isolated population, acknowledged international environmental experts during the second Marine Conservation Forum for the Gulf Region held in Abu Dhabi recently.
This is exicting news for Oman following ten years of research headed by marine expert Robert Baldwin and the Environment Society of Oman’s (ESO) dedicated environmental scientist volunteers, says a statement issued to media by the ESO on Monday.
The whale and dolphin research project that has been collecting data for the last 10 years has been instigated by ESO.
Sayyida Tania Al Said, founder and chairwomen of ESO said: “as we wind down Oman’s 40th National Day and the International Year of Biodiversity, we are delighted to unravel a unique gift to Oman from ESO.”
The Arabian Sea Humpback Whale is restricted to the near shore areas of the Arabian Sea region, with the centre for distribution being the Al Wusta and Dhofar coasts of Oman.
“It has created a buzz among marine scientists interested in whale conservation and the region’s marine environment,” said marine biologist and receipent of the GCC environment personality of the year award in 2009.
As the world faces tough environmental issues, the discovery of a unique population of whales by an Omani environmental organisation is welcomed as a hope for implementing conservation measures to sustain the lives of many people who are economically and socially dependent on the health of our seas.
Eyes are on Oman
“The world’s eyes are on Oman’s Arabian Sea whale population. We have received official confirmation of the special status of the species lineage from key international scientific research organisations and the International Whaling Commission has identified this population as a priority for further study and conservation.” said Baldwin.
