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International Journal of Marine Science 2013, Vol.3, No.44, 361-367
http://ijms.sophiapublisher.com
363
nutrient supply. While the surface water is nutrient
deficient, the deep water is in contrary with a
relatively high content might be due to regeneration of
sinking particulate organic matter (Rasheed et al.,
2002, Badran and Al-Zibdah, 2005).
2.2 Inadequate resources vs. rapid population
growth in Aqaba
Jordan is geographically disadvantaged and can claim
no exclusive economic zone. This leaves the country
forced to practice all of its maritime activities within
the limited space available. Being a young state,
Jordan began to utilize its coastal resources only
recently, (1980). During this relatively short period
maritime activities have increased substantially.
Yet the activities of tourism, sport and commercial
fishing, shipping of oil and other hazardous materials,
wastewater and solid waste disposal, mariculture and
industrial development threaten the vulnerable coral
reef ecosystem (see Figure 1). The population of the
city of Aqaba has increased from about 5,000 in 1955
to above 100,000 in 2006. This growth is expected to
continue and the tourist load continues to grow as the
tourist infrastructure develops. According to the
Aqaba Master Plan prepared by ASEZA, an additional
3000 hotel rooms are planned among 11 hotels and
two tourist villages in the southern coast (holiday
home complex and Golf Courses and Amusement
Parks). Some of these plans are already under
construction.
The typical nitrate and phosphate concentrations in
deep water are 2-4 and 0.2-0.3 mmol L
-1
, respectively
(Badran et al., 2005).
Surface cooling and the formation of a mixed layer
that deepens during fall and winter were observed to
gradually erode the summer stratification (Manasrah
et al., 2004). This process supplies nutrients that were
stored in the deep water to the upper water column
(photic zone) and creates a winter phytoplankton
bloom (Badran, 2001; Badran and Foster, 1998).
Nutrient levels rise as a result of diminishing nutrient
utilization
and
increasing
regeneration
of
phytoplankton that mixes with the water which spends
most of the time below the photic zone. The elevated
nutrient levels are utilized by macro algae that bloom
during this period in the shallow benthic environments
including the coral reefs (Genin et al., 1995). Two
major benthic habitats, coral reefs and sea grass
beds characterize the Jordanian coastline. The reefs
are of the fringing type with the scleractinian corals
as the main frame-building organisms. Corals in
Aqaba host large number of associated fauna
(Khalaf and Disi, 1997). Sea grass beds however,
extend mainly on the sandy beach at the utmost
northern edge of the Gulf of Aqaba (Al-Zibdah et al.,
2008; Al-Zibdah and Badran, 2004).
2.3 Tradition and culture of public in Gulf of Aqaba
Until early fifties, Aqaba was small fishing village
providing a sufficient fish catch to the community.
Development of ports was the first major industry to
establish itself on the coast. Ports spread rapidly and
covered about 30% of the entire coast. Other coastal
investments that followed were mainly tourist oriented
as well as industry that is based on the Jordanian
phosphate rock resource. Nevertheless, the ecological
aspects were considered early in the planning strategy.
One of the most significant management tools adopted
in Jordan is the declaration of 7 km of about 25% of
the Jordanian coast as a marine reserve. This has
pronounced benefits for the marine environment, but
creates excessive pressure on the fishing community
since it limits their already extremely limited fishing
grounds. Industry and tourism also occupy a
substantial part of the Jordanian coast (Al-Zibdah and
Badran 2004). Mega tourist projects such at the
southern and at the northern coasts tend not to use the
available coastline only, but to create additional
artificial coastline especially at the north.
2.4 The resort ofAqaba Vs. environmental conservation
With respect to the sea, desert and climate, Aqaba
enjoys a distinctive location as a coastal city with
desert winds. More than 90% of the wind that blows
in Aqaba is northerly coming from the desert, which
leaves relative humidity rarely exceeding the limit of
50% (Badran and Foster, 1998; Badran, 2001). Sunny
skies in Aqaba exceed 330 days per year and are quite
common even in winter. Aqaba enjoys in a richly
diverse coral reefs and beautiful sand beaches as well
as crystal blue seawater. These unique features of
Aqaba are increasingly threatened by an accelerated
development including boat anchoring, sport fishing,
shipping of oil and coastal industrial expansion
(Sandlers et al., 1994; Gulf of Aqaba Environmental
Action Plans #21060-IS and 21059-EGT, 2000).