Frontiers in Marine Science (Jan 2021)
Investing in Blue Natural Capital to Secure a Future for the Red Sea Ecosystems
- Maha J. Cziesielski,
- Carlos M. Duarte,
- Nojood Aalismail,
- Yousef Al-Hafedh,
- Andrea Anton,
- Faiyah Baalkhuyur,
- Andrew C. Baker,
- Thorsten Balke,
- Iliana B. Baums,
- Michael Berumen,
- Vasiliki I. Chalastani,
- Brendan Cornwell,
- Daniele Daffonchio,
- Karen Diele,
- Ehtesaam Farooq,
- Jean-Pierre Gattuso,
- Jean-Pierre Gattuso,
- Song He,
- Song He,
- Catherine E. Lovelock,
- Elizabeth Mcleod,
- Peter I. Macreadie,
- Nuria Marba,
- Cecilia Martin,
- Marcelle Muniz-Barreto,
- Kirshnakumar P. Kadinijappali,
- Perdana Prihartato,
- Lotfi Rabaoui,
- Vincent Saderne,
- Sebastian Schmidt-Roach,
- David J. Suggett,
- Michael Sweet,
- John Statton,
- Sam Teicher,
- Stacey M. Trevathan-Tackett,
- Thadickal V. Joydas,
- Razan Yahya,
- Manuel Aranda
Affiliations
- Maha J. Cziesielski
- Red Sea Research Center and Computational Bioscience Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Carlos M. Duarte
- Red Sea Research Center and Computational Bioscience Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Nojood Aalismail
- Red Sea Research Center and Computational Bioscience Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Yousef Al-Hafedh
- King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Andrea Anton
- Red Sea Research Center and Computational Bioscience Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Faiyah Baalkhuyur
- Red Sea Research Center and Computational Bioscience Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Andrew C. Baker
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
- Thorsten Balke
- School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Iliana B. Baums
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
- Michael Berumen
- Red Sea Research Center and Computational Bioscience Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Vasiliki I. Chalastani
- NationalLaboratory of Harbor Works, Department of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Zografou, Greece
- Brendan Cornwell
- Hopkins Marine Station of Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, United States
- Daniele Daffonchio
- Red Sea Research Center and Computational Bioscience Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Karen Diele
- School of Applied Sciences, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Ehtesaam Farooq
- The Red Sea Development Company, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Jean-Pierre Gattuso
- 0Laboratoire d’Océanographie de Villefranche, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Villefranche-sur-Mer, France
- Jean-Pierre Gattuso
- 1Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations, Paris, France
- Song He
- Red Sea Research Center and Computational Bioscience Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Song He
- 2Center for Environment & Water, Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
- Catherine E. Lovelock
- 3School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Elizabeth Mcleod
- 4The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA, United States
- Peter I. Macreadie
- 5Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, Australia
- Nuria Marba
- 6Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies, Illes Baleares, Spain
- Cecilia Martin
- Red Sea Research Center and Computational Bioscience Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Marcelle Muniz-Barreto
- Red Sea Research Center and Computational Bioscience Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Kirshnakumar P. Kadinijappali
- 2Center for Environment & Water, Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
- Perdana Prihartato
- 7Saudi Aramco, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
- Lotfi Rabaoui
- 2Center for Environment & Water, Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
- Vincent Saderne
- Red Sea Research Center and Computational Bioscience Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Sebastian Schmidt-Roach
- Red Sea Research Center and Computational Bioscience Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- David J. Suggett
- 8Faculty of Science, Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
- Michael Sweet
- 9Aquatic Research Facility, Environmental Sustainability Research Centre, University of Derby, Derby, United Kingdom
- John Statton
- 0Faculty of Science, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
- Sam Teicher
- 1Coral Vita, Freeport, Bahamas
- Stacey M. Trevathan-Tackett
- 5Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, Australia
- Thadickal V. Joydas
- 2Center for Environment & Water, Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
- Razan Yahya
- Red Sea Research Center and Computational Bioscience Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Manuel Aranda
- Red Sea Research Center and Computational Bioscience Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.603722
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 7
Abstract
For millennia, coastal and marine ecosystems have adapted and flourished in the Red Sea’s unique environment. Surrounded by deserts on all sides, the Red Sea is subjected to high dust inputs and receives very little freshwater input, and so harbors a high salinity. Coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and mangroves flourish in this environment and provide socio-economic and environmental benefits to the bordering coastlines and countries. Interestingly, while coral reef ecosystems are currently experiencing rapid decline on a global scale, those in the Red Sea appear to be in relatively better shape. That said, they are certainly not immune to the stressors that cause degradation, such as increasing ocean temperature, acidification and pollution. In many regions, ecosystems are already severely deteriorating and are further threatened by increasing population pressure and large coastal development projects. Degradation of these marine habitats will lead to environmental costs, as well as significant economic losses. Therefore, it will result in a missed opportunity for the bordering countries to develop a sustainable blue economy and integrate innovative nature-based solutions. Recognizing that securing the Red Sea ecosystems’ future must occur in synergy with continued social and economic growth, we developed an action plan for the conservation, restoration, and growth of marine environments of the Red Sea. We then investigated the level of resources for financial and economic investment that may incentivize these activities. This study presents a set of commercially viable financial investment strategies, ecological innovations, and sustainable development opportunities, which can, if implemented strategically, help ensure long-term economic benefits while promoting environmental conservation. We make a case for investing in blue natural capital and propose a strategic development model that relies on maintaining the health of natural ecosystems to safeguard the Red Sea’s sustainable development.
Keywords
