The Red Sea is a unique body of water, hosting some of the most productive and diverse coral reefs. Human populations along coasts of the Red Sea were initially sparse due to the hot and arid climate surrounding it, but this is changing with improved desalination techniques, accessible energy, and increased economic interest in coastal areas. In addition to increasing pressure on reefs from coastal development, global drivers, primarily ocean acidification and seawater warming, are threatening coral reefs of the region. While reefs in southern sections of the Red Sea live near or above their maximum temperature tolerance and have experienced bleaching events in the recent past, coral reefs in northern sections are considered a coral reef refugia from global warming and acidification, at least for the coming decades. Such differential sensitivities along the latitudinal gradient of the Red Sea require differential solutions and management. In an effort to identify the appropriate solutions to conserve and maintain resilience of these reefs along a latitudinal gradient, we used a SWOT analysis ( strengths/weaknesses/opportunities/threats) to frame the present situation and to propose policy solutions as useful planning procedures. We highlight the need for immediate action to secure the northern sections of the Red Sea as a coral reef climate change refuge by management and removal of local stressors. There is a need to strengthen the scientific knowledge base for proper management and to encourage regional collaboration on environmental issues. Based on scientific data, solutions such as marine protected areas, fishing regulation, and reef restoration approaches were ranked for five distinct latitudinal sections in the Red Sea and levels of interventions are recommended. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
1.Bar Ilan Univ, Mina & Everard Goodman Fac Life Sci, IL-5290002 Ramat Gan, Israel 2.Interuniv Inst Marine Sci Eilat, POB 469, IL-88103 Elat, Israel 3.Loyola Univ Chicago, 82 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611 USA 4.Univ Konstanz, Dept Biol, Univ Str 10, D-78457 Constance, Germany 5.Skill Partners, 24 Av Sidi Brahim, F-06130 Grasse, France 6.Natl Inst Oceanog, Israel Oceanog & Limnol Res, POB 8030, IL-31080 Haifa, Israel 7.IUCN, World Commiss Protected Areas, 28 Rue Mauverney, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland 8.Ctr Sci Monaco, MC-98000 Monaco, MC, Monaco
Recommended Citation:
Fine, M.,Cinar, M.,Voolstra, C. R.,et al. Coral reefs of the Red Sea - Challenges and potential solutions[J]. REGIONAL STUDIES IN MARINE SCIENCE,2019-01-01,25