UAE | Environment
Abu Dhabi's marine treasure island
From 7,000-year-old houses to dugongs and turtles, the island of Marawah offers a hearty package to visitors.
- By Rayeesa Absal, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:08 January 4, 2008
- Marawah Island was declared a marine protected area in 2001 by the government and hosts 60 per cent of the population of dugongs in the world.
- Image Credit: Supplied Picture
Abu Dhabi: From 7,000-year-old houses to dugongs and turtles, the island of Marawah offers a hearty package to visitors.
The island, situated off Abu Dhabi, was recently in the news for becoming the first Biosphere Reserve in the country after being recognised by Unesco.
Home to important marine and coastal ecosystems, including sea grass beds, coral reefs and mangroves, the Marawah Biosphere Reserve is managed by the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD).
Marawah Marine Protected Area (MPA) is spread over 4,255 sq km and is the largest MPA in the region. It is 150km from the city of Abu Dhabi.
The island has great cultural and archaeological significance with the presence of more than 20 sites dating back to the Stone Age. Houses as old as 7,000 years from Stone Age were unearthed a few years back along with the remains of the oldest inhabitants of the island.
Archaeological sites identified on the island date back to the Bronze Age, Iron Age the late pre Islamic period as well as Islamic period. A large Islamic graveyard, with over 60 burials, and an important fragment of pottery from the Late Stone Age were found.
The island was declared a marine protected area in 2001 by the government and hosts 60 per cent of the population of dugongs in the world.
It was last year that EAD decided to open the island to members of the public.
'Take nothing but photos, leave nothing but footprints', says a brochure at the island and this is exactly what EAD hopes to enforce while attracting visitors. Currently the authorities are completing work on essential infrastructure.
Biodiversity
Four species of marine turtles, 70 species of fish and coral reefs, and kilometers of mangrove make up the unique environment of Marawah.
Resident and migratory bird species, such as ospreys, sooty falcons and several tern species, are also part of the ecosystem, making the area important because of its biodiversity.
Bottlenose and humpback dolphins are also found in the surrounding waters. Preserving the natural diversity and quality of coastal and marine environment is what the management of the island aims at. A 12-member Marine ranger force carries out the surveillance and control programme here.
Marawah is, however, just one island of the whole protected area that includes 20 islands. It is surrounded by Abu Al Abyad island in the east, Sir Baniyas in the west, a coastal line in the south and Jarnain Island in the north.
The agency has carried out several fishery studies and detailed surveys to facilitate the setting up of a fish stock database that can eventually lead to a better management regime for fisheries.
Interestingly, the island inhabits more than 107 families who have lived here for several years. Some families hold the license to fish issued by EAD but many have moved on to the city or are not completely settled here.
Economy
The total estimated annual catch is worth at least Dh20 million, according to EAD.
When Marawah was first to be declared as a protected area, EAD conducted studies and took help from the inhabitants in collecting information, said one of the officials at the island, adding that they participated actively in preserving the resources.
Ever since Marawah was declared as marine protected area, no construction has taken place to make sure the island is preserved at its natural best.
This also means no new buildings were built here, so the inhabitants are not allowed to expand the homes they own.
Monitored renovations, however, are carried out from time to time.
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