Egypts Red Sea under Threat from Pollution - Essay Example

Pollution in Red Sea and its consequences Marwa sarfraz Introduction Red Sea is an enormous body of water which is almost completely locked and this locking connects it with many countries and regions. In the ancient times, when many parts of the world were still undiscovered, Far East, which is now Middle East, remained secluded from Europe because there were no water ways and water navigation was the only method of communication. In 19th century, the building of Suez Canal brought about a radical change and Red Sea was now connected with Mediterranean and consequently to Europe. This connection has increased the importance of Red Sea a hundred folds. “Total six percent of maritime transport of the world is done through and on the coasts of Red Sea. Red Sea is connected to Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, Sudan, Israel, Yemen, and Djibouti. Not only is the maritime trade, tourism also one of the most significant factors”. (Nasser, 2003). Red sea is one amazing body of water with high salinity and wonderful marine life which attracts hundreds and thousands of people from around the world every year. It is stuck among some of the most important countries of the world, hence all the Tourism. Despite all the beauty and utility, the security and survival of the sea is a major concern. Red Sea’s coral reef, eco system, and marine life is in danger because of the oil spill, waste dump by all the surrounding countries, mighty natural evaporation and lack of input by any rivers, and last but not the least is absence of awareness among the government and responsible people about the issue. Red Sea is no longer a scene of pure nature and complete harmony. Unnecessary buildings in the form of hotels and restaurants in order to accommodate tourists, has also diminished the natural and awe and beauty of the place. The concerns of the area not restricted. There are numerous problems affecting Red Sea. One of which is unrestricted fishery. The adjoining countries have been unable in bringing about effective rules and regulations for fishery and the consequence is disappearance of world’s precious species and marine life. Apart from unhindered developments of tourist resorts and unrestricted fishery, Oil spill in the area is also a huge concern. Since the sea is a major connection connecting Europe with Asia, it has numerous ships in waters at bays all the time and this causes mighty pollution. One of the factors to be understood is that the Countries that surround the sea are oil rich countries. They export oil and their oil rigs are almost constantly present in the sea and they leak a significant amount of oil every day. This adds up to become a threatening amount in the end! Absence of awareness in the whole region about the safety of marine life and eco system has led these countries to adopt a very relax policies towards their industrialists who would dump chemical waste in the sea killing the marine life n it and also ruining the future of tourism in the country. A detail of the causes of the pollution would include such reasons as: Physical alteration Chemical waste Tourism Agriculture Industrial development Lack of absence and initiative As for physical alteration, almost all surrounding countries are to be blamed for lack of attention but the biggest culprit here, at least so it seems, is Egypt. Overwhelming amount of tourists visit these countries, especially Egypt, every year and there are thousands of resorts for accommodation purposes and they are increasing every day. countries Year of survey Number of tourists Rank in the world Egypt 1997 3,657,000 28 Saudi Arabia 1997 3,594,000 29 Jordan 1997 1,127,000 48 Israel 1997 20,10,000 41 Source: http://www1.american.edu/ted/redsea.htm, Yossi Nasser, 2003 Physical alteration has come about because of many things going on at one time and tourism and tourists resorts are not the sole culprits. Industrialization is blamed for many things and it is to be blamed here too. Industrialization has resulted into vehement increase in urbanization, hence increase in population. As urbanization is increasing, there is a very little space left to nature and it is hazardous for natural life. Same is the case with Red Sea’s marine life. Too much population around the sea is resulting in pollution and noise and this is disturbing the natural balance necessary for the growth of natural life. Jordan’s extensive urbanization and industrialization is a suicide for natural ecosystem and marine life. Saudi Arabia has built an enormous number of tourist resorts, hotels and restaurants and the number increased sharply after 80s and this has deteriorated the environment and natural peace on Red sea costs. “The coastline iof Egypt s a site of extensive construction and habitat alteration, including dredge and fill operations of shallow areas, excavation of artificial lagoons, construction of huge marine structures, and mining and quarrying. Several urban centres have been developed along the coast at Suez, Hurghada and Sharm el Sheikh” (UNEP Report, 1997). The report also points out huge numbers of beach resorts that have erupted in the past few years and predicts that the number of tourists in Egypt would increase up to one million. “Dredge and fill activities around Aqaba have altered coastline morphology and created a plethora of erosion and sedimentation problems affecting the entire area” (ibid, 1997). Lack of awareness in the whole region about the environment is huge set back and for this reason many countries of the region are disposing off their untreated water into the sea water and there is only a little concern shown over the matter although it is poisonous for marine life and beauty. Countries like Saudi Arabia and Egypt are dumping huge amount of untreated sewage into the sea through boats and vessels and what not. It is only a recent activity that these countries have started treating their waters and still a good amount of waste goes to the sea anyway. Industrial revolution in the region has also played a very vital role in the disturbance of the natural life. There are huge industries now operating in the Middle Eastern countries especially refineries, owing to oil production and export, and salinity treatment projects, owing to the overwhelming shortage of water in the region. There are many industries to be seen along the coasts of Egypt, Arabia, Jordan, Somalia, and others. The waste from these industries is highly hazardous as it contains heavy metal, oil organic pollutants etc. Jordan hosts a huge power plant, whose capacity is almost 250 mega watts, cement factories, fertilizer manufacturing installations, tank farm for chemical treatment, and many more. These installations are leaving chlorinated water into the sea. Saudi Arabia has multi- dimensional problems related to this problem. Saudi Arabia has hundreds of industries in the southern coastal areas and there waste is a problem for the country. Apart from that the other problem is linked with the earlier issue of urbanization. Saudi Arab has numerous water refining plants to meet the needs of the increasing population and the industry which is growing at a magnificence speed. The water treatment plants are taking water from the Red Sea and returning it with high amounts of slat and other minerals which is shifting the natural balance of the minerals in the water. It is a slow process yet, it has the capacity to become significant in the future. Apparently agricultural activities are all benefitting but there are many side effects after the commencement of the use of pesticides and insecticides. Huge agricultural activities are going on all along the coast of Red Sea and that means a huge amount of fertilizer and chemicals into the sea as an agricultural runoff. As the population of the coastal countries increase, the needs for food increase too, hence increased agriculture and increased use of chemicals for better production. These countries are not too advance and regulated and many farmers end up using unregistered and tested pesticide which proves to be highly dangerous for the marine survival and security. All these problems have become significant and now attention is paid to them as the environmental regime has started internationally. The coastal issues are concerns of many countries and the solution would need their collaboration on the matter. Bringing these countries to one point has been the most difficult of the problems but there is still hope. The coastal countries have political issues that prove to be hindrance in a peaceful solution of the problem although the problem is affecting all the countries alike. Environmental concerns are always universal and they are not restricted to any single country, hence the global environmental regime. Many visitors to the beaches of the sea are reporting the deterioration of the coast and are showing concerns. The Tourism of the countries is expected to decrease if the situation persists. Situation of marine life, coral reefs and eco system is now an international concern and tourists have claimed that conditions are way worse than what used to be in 2004. They are reporting that “coral is turning grey and dying” (Egypt go green, 2010). “History of the problem involves the problems of industrialization of the area, economic development and urbanization, and political disputes among the coastal countries. The global environmental regime has turned attention to the problem. Bordering countries are supporting GEF-supported projects in the sea. The process of formulating a Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) and a Strategic Action Program (SAP) has played an important role in uniting the approach taken by the coastal countries bordering this LME. In 1982, they had signed the Jeddah Convention, which provides the legal framework for cooperation in marine issues. A Regional Organization for the Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (PERSGA) was established. The SAP identifies actions needed to protect the uniquely fragile coral reefs, sea grass beds and mangroves of the Red Sea coast. Its aim is to improve coastal and marine environments by supporting integrated coastal zone management and identifying the institutional and legal impediments to further regional cooperation. Egypt, Sudan, Saudi Arabia and Yemen are creating marine protected areas that will provide sanctuaries for valuable species” (Hunter, 2008). The unconcerned attitude s not only causing a huge natural deficit, in time it will also become a human misery when there would be no fish to eat and beauty to fulfill the aesthetic sense of human beings. Analysis/ Evaluation The sheer lack of awareness among the governments of the coastal areas has caused the problem and it has gone so far that it is now a full fledge international concern. The problem is of the whole region so whatever political concerns these countries have should be put aside to solve the issue first as it is a concern that is not to be delayed. Extensive urbanization and technological advancement has resulted into this problem and it continues to aggravate it as the processes go on. Oil production in the gulf countries is increasing and same goes for oil export. Huge amount of oil transcends these borders and same is the magnitude of danger for marine life in the coastal area. There is a lack of knowledge and research on the topic as the governments are not backing studies in the field. If there is no research in this subject; there are grim chances for any kind of betterment in the field too. Researches by students as well as organizations in this subject would help spreading awareness as well as sorting the problem out and that would lead to the solution of this problem. Countries along the coast of Red Sea are required to reconsider their policies in the matter. They have to plan their cities and check their population growth rate and control pollution of their waters. Pollution of the sea can be a potential health threat too for the people living on the coasts too. Regulatory authorities for chemical and fertilizers should always check the material as it later becomes a part of the water in Red Sea. A general desire and consciousness is probably the most decisive factor in solving the issue. Recommendations Political agenda must be set for an effective cooperation in this field and if things are not working out, third party mediation can probably work for the coastal countries. Global governance should pay attention and force these countries to come up with policies for preservation of the sea life of Red Sea. Political as well as public awareness is very necessary for a long term solution of the problem. A sound and aware public would force the governments to make laws in accordance with the rules. Countries must abide by international rules and laws, hence International law of oceans and seas must be obeyed for greater good All powers must be applied to keep the sea clean of any kind of waste and chemicals. References Egypt’s Red Sea under threat from pollution, (2010), http://allaboutegypt.org/2010/10/egypts-red-sea-under-threat-from-pollution/ retrieved on: 3rd December, 2011 Egypt must go green, (2010), http://nofishleft.wordpress.com/2010/10/17/egypt-must-go-green-to-save-red-sea/ Hunter, Clayton, Red Sea large marine ecosystem,(2008), http://www.eoearth.org/article/Red_Sea_large_marine_ecosystem retrieved on: 3rd December, 2011 Nasser, Yossi, Ted case study,(2003), http://www1.american.edu/ted/redsea.htm retrieved on: 3rd December, 2011 http://www.unep.ch/regionalseas/main/persga/redthreat.html Read More