UAE | Environment
Abu Dhabi waters on red tide alert
Beaches of Abu Dhabi are on "red tide" alert, officials said on Tuesday, while those in Dubai were clear of the menace.
- By Rayeesa Absal and Sunita Menon, Staff Reporters
- Published: 23:16 April 7, 2009
- Image Credit: Reuters
- An aerial image shows the 'red tide' close to the shores of Dubai on Tuesday. The toxic algal bloom, commonly known as 'red tide', which can devastate marine plant and animal life, was seen dissipating, according to the authorities, who said it was unlikely to intensify because the rains have ceased.
Abu Dhabi/Dubai: Beaches of Abu Dhabi are on "red tide" alert, officials said on Tuesday, while those in Dubai were clear of the menace.
Dubai residents and tourists were seen having a good time on the beaches yesterday.
Civic officials in both cities are keeping a constant watch of the waters for the potentially poisonous algal bloom.
"We are monitoring the situation closely. So far it has not entered the capital but it depends on factors like wind direction and water salinity", said Thabit Al Abdessalaam, Director of Biodiversity Sector - Marine Environment at Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD). "It is unlikely that it will spread to Abu Dhabi because today it [red tide] is very much dissipated and was not seen in its original intensity. Its usual life cycle is about 3 to 4 days", he noted.
EAD, along with the Dubai authorities, inspected water bodies on Monday to find that the red tide had spread until the Jebel Ali area. "The fact that it stopped raining is also helping us, because rain would cause draining of more nutrients into the sea which triggers red tide." The winds are also not in the easterly direction, he added.
EAD is coordinating with the Abu Dhabi Municipality as well as authorities in Dubai to make sure all precautionary measures are taken, Abdessalaam said.
The last time the emirate witnessed a major red tide problem was in 2003, when fish kills were recorded in Mussafah Channel.
But minor occurrences of the red tide were recorded several times. They were mostly away from the city (in areas like Delma, Al Yasat, Sir Baniyas etc) and did not warrant any action, he said.
Public beaches will only be closed if a serious problem is seen.
Assurance: No fish shortage
The Ministry of Environment and Water said that there are ample supply of fishes in the market and there is no fear of them being contaminated.
According to them the red tide has not had any impact on the supply on fish nor on its prices.
"There are fishery communities in each emirate and they have all been informed not to use their trap-net anywhere near the red tide," said Dr Ebrahim Jamali, Director of Marine Research Resource Centre, at the Ministry of Environment and Water.
He assured that the red tide will not have any impact on the prices of fish, as their prices are not determined merely by one factor.
"We have to take into consideration whether we are in the summer months, if there are rain storms and the high temperatures," said Dr Ebrahim.
The months from March to May are the peak season for fishing and there is currently enough fish. "The prices will remain stable and we are not expecting any sudden changes because stock is abundant," he said.
- Mariam M Al Serkal, Staff Reporter
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