Sharjah’s own eco-treasure island

posted on 12/12/2011: 716 views

The Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA) in Sharjah unveiled on Sunday findings of its scientific research to monitor fungal life forms in Sir Bu Nair Island, which is under the jurisdiction of Sharjah.

The study recorded over 324 nests of the hawksbill turtle in all the beaches on the island, the authority announced in a press conference held on Sunday at the Al Qasba Theatre. The island is an important location for the hawksbill turtle in the Arabian Gulf and especially in the UAE.

The research also pointed out that teams had found two nests of the green turtle in the southern area of the island in 2010, which is the first time the nests of this particular species has been spotted in the UAE and the southeast area of the Arabian Gulf.

The study was conducted in collaboration with the Emirates Marine Environmental Group (EMEG) and with support from the World Wide Fund for Nature and HSBC and aims at unveiling the rarities of the biodiversity in the island's protected area in line with directions of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah.

It has confirmed the existence of around 37 different species of coral reefs in Abu Dhabi and Jebel Ali in Dubai. Over 58 different species of coral reef fish were identified through the studies with the highest rate of fish biodiversity being recorded.

A number of other species of fish were also found in the northern and southern areas of Sir Bu Nair Island — a new record in terms of the number of fish in UAE waters.

Researchers also found a huge colony of Sooty Gulls in the middle of the Sir Bu Nair Island, recording around 1,037 nests.

During the conference held to announce the results of the study, Hana Saif Al Suwaidi, the general manager of EPAA, stressed the importance of Sir Bu Nair Island as an environmental and cultural landmark in the UAE, which has been granted special attention from the Sharjah leadership. In addition to research activities being carried out since the 1980s, the site also received a special visit from Sheikh Sultan himself in April 1985.

Furthermore, his focus on the island as a natural wealth led to establishing decision No. (3) in the year 2000 on the prevention of environmental degradation in Sir Bu Nair Island.

Ali Saker Al Swaidi, president of EMEG, expressed his appreciation of the efforts exerted for protecting the biodiversity in the Sir Bu Nair reserve. He emphasised on the environmental importance of the island and its strategic location in the system of global natural reserves.

Through the EMEG, EPAA will continue its environmental monitoring in Sir Bu Nair throughout 2011 and 2012 with the aim that more turtle nests will be documented, providing researchers with more information on nesting behaviour. – The Gulf Today

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