Despite recent scientific evidence demonstrating the ecological value of intertidal and shallow subtidal ecosystems, these systems are disappearing rapidly in the Gulf. Infill and dredging for waterfront developments and artificial islands has impacted the natural shores of most western Gulf countries and fisheries are declining due to the loss of nursery and feeding grounds.
In contrast, developments such as West Bay lagoon, Qatar and the Al-Khiran Pearl City, Kuwait have created new habitats by constructing marine waterways in saline sabkha and hypersaline khors of low ecological value. Studies in West Bay Lagoon, open to the sea since 1996, demonstrate that typical intertidal and subtidal ecosystems are re-established and that recent introduction of sea grass is successful.
At Al-Khiran over 170 km of new waterways and intertidal habitats are planned. Phase A1 with 127 ha of 2–3 m deep waterways, 16 ha of sand beach and 9 ha of planted mangrove/salt marsh was opened to the sea in 2004. A marine ecological survey of these waterways in September 2005 collected quantitative samples of macrobiota from 3 sites, both intertidally and subtidally, and epibiota was sampled using a benthic sledge. Semi-quantitative fishing was conducted using gargoors and a seine net and diving employed to photograph marine life.
Physio-chemical water column measurements and plankton samples demonstrate that the sea water is of high quality. Biological samples reveal that over 215 macrobiota and 37 fish species already exist within the waterways. Diversity now far exceeds that recorded for the khors before construction. The supralittoral of the new beaches and salt marsh remains impoverished, but lower shore and subtidal diversity and abundance are similar to open sea habitats. Catches of market size grouper and mullet, and planktonic shrimp and fish larvae, indicate these waterways enhance existing marine productivity and act as a nursery for commercial species.
