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International Journal of Marine Science 2013, Vol.3, No.44, 361-367
http://ijms.sophiapublisher.com
361
Research Article Open Access
The Aqaba Marine Protected Area
—
Integration of Marine Science and
Resource Management in the Gulf of Aqaba-Red Sea
Mohammad Al-Zibdah
Department of Marine Biology, Marine Science Faculty, University of Jordan, 77110 Aqaba, Jordan
Corresponding author email:
zibdeh@ju.edu.jo
International Journal of Marine Science, 2013, Vol.3, No.44 doi: 10.5376/ijms.2013.03.0044
Received: 09 Aug., 2013
Accepted: 16 Sep., 2013
Published: 18 Oct., 2013
Copyright
©
2013 Al-Zibdah, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use,
distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Preferred citation for this article:
Al-Zibdah, 2013, The Aqaba Marine Protected Area----Integration of Marine Science and Resource Management in the Gulf of Aqaba-Red Sea, International
Journal of Marine Science, Vol.3, No.44 361
-
367 (doi: 10.5376/ijms.2013.03.0044)
Abstract
Aqaba has great strategic importance being Jordan’s only maritime access point. Within this geographically restricted area
there is a need to accommodate industry, trade, and tourism with concurrent environmental conservation practices. Jordan has
recognized the need to follow a plan that deals with the entire coastal zone and its full range of resources in a comprehensive manner
to avoid severe conflicts over coastal space and resource utilization. The plan presented here describes the best possible compromise
between the different interests through harmonizing coastal activities to support a broader set of overarching national goals for the
Jordanian coast.
The Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) established a national Marine Protected Area (MPA) as part of the master
plan of the coastal resources embodying the coral reserve along the coast. The MPA was established to conserve and manage the
natural near-shore marine environment of the south coast with its rich biodiversity while allowing certain tourist uses. At the same
time, the MPA supports efforts to conduct research and monitoring programs on the physical, chemical, and biological properties of
the northern Gulf of Aqaba and the near shore coral reefs. Currently, the MPA in Aqaba plays a significant role in strengthening the
regional capability for information exchange and resource management for the entire Red Sea. In order to lay the groundwork for
integrated coastal zone management in Jordan’s Gulf of Aqaba and for a long-standing working relationship between the regional
countries, issues of environmental management and conservation are discussed.
Keywords
Marine protected area; Gulf of Aqaba; Red Sea; Integrated coastal zone management; Near shore reef protection
Introduction
Humankind is perhaps only now grasping the concepts
needed to manage relations between people and the
oceans (Kelleher and Kenchington, 1991; Crosby,
1997; Kelleher et al., 1995; Eichbaum et al., 1996).
The new generations of marine and coastal protected
areas are increasingly important mechanisms to
advance the protection of marine biodiversity
(Eichbaum et al., 1996; Agardy et al., 2003). The
Northern Gulf of Aqaba is a limited, over-exploited
coastal zone disturbed by diverse anthropogenic
activities (Crosby et al., 2000; Portman, 2007).
Because of the restricted water exchange and
sensitivity of the marine ecosystems, it poses a
continuing threat to the environment (and on some
occasions to public health). In order to facilitate the
incorporation of new and existing knowledge into the
Aqaba Marine Protected Area (AMPA) management,
new paradigms have been developed to include
interaction, multi-disciplinary science and education
efforts. However, such a model requires that applied
research and technical development become a priority
within the management and scientific community.
Scientists and managers in Aqaba were working
together in order to identify and understand the
ecological, economic and social driving forces behind
the loss of marine biodiversity and destruction of
marine and coastal ecosystems at some locations
along the Jordanian coast of Gulf of Aqaba. ASEZA as
well as other environmental organizations are
currently applying much of their efforts toward
protecting against environmental degradation through
the support of sound environmental management. A
common means to facilitate a full use of coastal
marine habitats in a sustainable fashion is the
Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM)
approach. The ICZM should determine the type and
extent of use of the different sites based on the best