Al Yasat: A multi-faceted marine protected area

One recently-established MPA is that of Al Yasat, a group of islands and their surroundings, in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi

Al Yasat consists of four islands in the far west of the UAE. They are Upper Yasat, Lower Yasat, Esam and Karsha. The islands were declared a Marine Protected Area by Abu Dhabi Emiri Decree No. 33 issued by the President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in late 2005. This resulted in an area of 482 sq. km being declared a no-take zone. The decree also stated that the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) would be the MPA's managing authority, responsible for overseeing and implementing laws and regulations within the Area.

Al Yasat MPA is expected to provide effective protection for the area's fish stocks at various stages in their life cycles, when they are dependent on specific habitat types or locations. In the absence of fishing pressure inside the protected area, fish will be able to grow to maturity and increase in abundance.

Ecological Importance of Al Yasat

The Al Yasat group of islands and their surrounding waters included in the new MPA are of considerable ecological importance.

• The islands are surrounded by coral reefs which act as important marine sanctuaries to many species including the already over-exploited Hamour, Shaari and Farsh. The reefs have good coral growth and high coral cover with around 8 coral species present.

• The islands have irregular coastlines with both rocky and sandy shorelines, providing a variety of habitats.

• The MPA has suitable foraging habitats for the critically endangered hawksbill turtles.

• The MPA also has significant populations of marine fauna including the endangered green turtle and dugong.

• Desert hares are present on the islands, where they make use of the natural landscape and vegetation for shelter, food and breeding.

• Upper Yasat has an important breeding colony of Socotra cormorants, a near-endemic bird species for the UAE, which is one of less than 15 existing colonies in the world.

Cultural and Historical Importance of Al Yasat

• According to surveys undertaken in this area, the Yasat islands were once the site of human settlement in the late pre-Islamic period (1st - 6th Century AD). The remains of shelters and other sites, which demonstrate evidence of occupation during the Late Islamic period, have also been found, including shell middens that demonstrate the way local inhabitants exploited food resources from nearby waters. Several of these sites are considered to be of national or regional importance.

Restrictions of Al Yasat Marine Protected Area:

• Any form of hunting, killing or catching wildlife is banned.
• Damaging the nesting areas of birds and marine turtles is banned.
• Changing the geographical features of the islands is prohibited.
• Berthing of boats in non-designated areas is banned.
• Fishing is restricted within three nautical miles from the nearest low water mark (shoreline) in the MPA.

Research in Al Yasat MPA:

As part of preparations for the designation of the Al Yasat area as a M,arine Protected Area, EAD has undertaken extensive scientific research. This has included:

• Surveys and assessment of the coral reef habitat of the area, through a continuing Coral Reef Investigation project (see end notes)
• Studying of and satellite-tracking of marine turtles after their egg-laying
• Installation of permanent monitoring stations to monitor the regeneration of coral reefs.

As part of its work to enforce the no-take regulations, EAD will install around 22 marine marker buoys to mark the MPA's boundaries.

EAD already manages the Marawah Marine Protected Area, further to the east. The Agency has carried out several fishery studies and detailed surveys to facilitate the setting up of a fish stocks database that can eventually lead to a better management regime for fisheries.