NOAA's Reporter's Coral Reef Tip Sheet
September 22, 1997 - Week 38

Nearly 100 nations enjoy coral reef ecosystems along their shorelines. Following the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio, a group of these nations, along with a selection of international organizations and NGO's, began the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI). ICRI provides support for projects directed at improving the management of reef systems. Since the first ICRI global workshop was held in The Philippines in 1995, the partnership has continued to expand and has promoted a comprehensive "Call to Action" and a practical "Framework for Action" to help guide efforts to conserve and protect precious reef resources. ICRI has been an attention getter, using minimal funds to develop workshops and films, as well as high-profile participatory technical assistance.

Thus far, ICRI regional workshops have been held in the Tropical Americas (Jamaica), the Pacific (Fiji), and in the South Asian Seas (Maldives) all in 1995; in the West Indian Ocean and Eastern Africa (Seychelles), the East Asian Seas (Indonesia) in 1996; and after several delays, the Middle East (Jordan) this week.

The focus of the Middle East workshop will be the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The United States has been instrumental in funding the workshop and assisting the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to host the workshop. Coral reefs in the Gulf of Aqaba represent the northernmost limit for coral reefs in the Indian Ocean region. The Gulf supports a dense population of more than 100 species of corals, 800 species of fish and hundreds of species of crustaceans and mollusks. The natural resources and the climate of the Gulf of Aqaba make the area very attractive to scientists, sport divers and tourists from all over the world. Pressure from rapid coastal development, including oil-related industry centers and tourist resorts, have been causing constant degradation of the reefs all through the gulf and pose serious threats to future health of coral reef ecosystems.

The previous ICRI regional workshops have been instrumental in helping nations within a region take a closer look at the issues impacting their reef resources. The workshops have helped generate specific policy recommendations tailored to the uniqueness of each region. In the Gulf of Aqaba, expected outcomes include development of a Strategic Action Plan to be funded in part by the World Bank's Global Environmental Facility, as well as commitments between Jordan and Israel to participate in the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network through the establishment of research and monitoring protocols and sharing of information.

Contact:
Ben Mieremet
Coastal Management Team Manager
NOAA/NOS/OCRM
SSMCIV - WS 11110
1305 East-West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Tel: 1-301-713-3086 ext. 127
Fax: 1-301-713-4367 (new)
BMIEREMET@COASTS.NOS.NOAA.GOV

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE REEF , PLEASE CONTACT: