RECOFI Technical Workshop on Spatial Planning for Marine

Capture Fisheries and AquacultureDoha, Qatar

24–28 October 2010

Disclaimer

This is an unedited presentation given at the RECOFI Technical Workshop on Spatial Planning for Marine Capture Fisheries and Aquaculture. The Organizers do not guarantee the accuracy or authenticity of the contents.

Citations

Please use the following citation sequence when citing this document:1. Author.2. Title.3. Presented at the RECOFI Technical Workshop on Spatial Planning for Marine Capture

Fisheries and Aquaculture 24–28 October 2010, Doha, Qatar.

2

RECOFI regional spatial planning RECOFI regional spatial planning

for marine capture fisheries and aquaculture for marine capture fisheries and aquaculture

Kingdom of BahrainKingdom of Bahrain

AbdulKarim Habib AlAbdulKarim Habib Al--RadhiRadhi

Hussain AlHussain Al--HindiHindi

24 24 –– 28 October 2010, Doha, Qatar28 October 2010, Doha, Qatar

BAHRAIN PROFILE

�Bahrain is a group of islands.

�Land Area 770 Km2

�Fishery Zone 3,800 Km2

�Length of coast 590 Km

�Population 1,173,000

�GDP (Current Prices-2009) BD 7263.8Million

�Contribution of Fisheries Sector in GDP

(Current Prices-2009) BD 10.9 Million(0.15%)

��GeographyGeography

4

Bahrain Fishery ProfileBahrain Fishery Profile

� FISHERY Employment – “Census 2004”9164 fishermen classified into 3 types:

1. Full-time: Total 4707, Bahraini = 1714, Foreigner = 2993.

2. Part-time: Total 2145, Bahraini = 2145, Foreigner = 0.

3. Occasional & Recreation: Total 927, Bahraini = 927, Foreigner = 0.

� Secondary Sector:Laborers, Salesmen, Transporters …. etc. Total : 700

Fishery Commodity Balance Fishery Commodity Balance --2009 (MT)2009 (MT)

Consumption

Kg/per/yearTotal SupplyExportsImportsProduction

8.5995611200480016356Fish

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� The total fish landings has increased significantly during the last two decades, while the finfish landing

almost have been stable.

� The increase in total landing can be attributed to

increased crustacean (Crabs and Shrimp).

� Most of valuable commercial finfish species

production has not recorded a remarkable increment

during 20 years ago.

� The fishing effort has recorded almost doubled during the last 2 decades. Such as;

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Increase in number of boats, gears, technology (i.e. winch GPS, fish-finder…).

Increase in number of fishermen.

Increase in number of working days and fishing hours (i.e. in shrimp-trawl and gill-net).

Increase in number of hauling gargoor (wire-trap) from sea.

The trend of annual catch rate has been recorded a

significant decline in last 10 years.

Total Fish landings and Total fishing boats has

increased significantly during the last two decades,

while the fishing area around Bahrain has reduced.

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Figure 1: Total Fish Landings and total Fishing Boats (Fishery

Census) in Bahrain from 1983 to 2007

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

1983 1988 1993 1998 2004

Year

La

nd

ing

s (m

t)

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

Bo

ats

Total landings (mt) Fishing boats

8

Figure 2: Total fish landings (mt) by species group from 1980 - 2007

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

18000

1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006

Years

Lan

din

gs

(mt)

FISH GROUPS JELLY FISH MOLLUSCS CRUSTACEANS

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Figure 3: Contribution percentage for main species in landings from

1980 to 2007

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006

Year

lan

din

gs

per

cen

tag

e

FISH GROUPS JELLY FISH MOLLUSCS CRUSTACEANS

� Fishery Boats 2727 boats (Census-2004)- Dhow 343 boats (13%)

- Speedboat (Fiberglass) 2384 (87%)

� Fishery Boats are distributed to Fishery Gears as follow:

� Shrimp Trawl 299

�Gillnets 157�Large Wire-trap 131

�Small Wire-trap 373

�Crabs Wire-trap 102�Combination 782

�Hook & Line 874

�Without Gear 9

� Barrier traps (Haddrah) 644

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Bahrain Aquaculture Profile

General view:

The National Mariculture Centre began as a pilot project in 1979 in cooperation with the Food and

Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The centre is located at Ras Hayan on the

South-Eastern coast of Bahrain.

The National Mariculture Centre under the

jurisdiction of the Directorate of Marine Resources is the government body that conducts

applied and scientific research in the Aquaculture.

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The main objectives of NMC

• To create the scientific and technical base for the development of mariculture operations in Bahrain.

• To conduct appropriate scientific research projects and developmental programmes on the mariculture of living marine resources.

• To develop suitable culture systems for the environmental conditions found in Bahrain.

• To assist and encourage private sector investment in commercial fish farming and similar activities in the country.

• To mass produce seed of suitable and commercially important species for the fish farming sector.

• To produce market size fish in suitable culture systems for the local and international markets.

• To train national staff in aquaculture technology.

• To assist stock enhancement program through the mass productionof seeds, fry and fingerlings to protect the local endangered marine resources from extinction.

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Main cultured species

• The National Mariculture Centre has successfully achieved the mass

propagation of seed of the following commercially important local species:

rabbit fish (Safee) (Siganus canaliculatus), sobaity bream (Sobaity)

(Sparidentex hasta), brown-spotted grouper (Hamoor) (Epinephelus coioides), gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata), mangrove snapper (Sheggar)

(Lutjanus argentimaculatus), streaked rabbit fish (Siganus javus) and green

tiger shrimp (Rubian) (Penaeus semisulcatus).

• Currently, production is taking place for the first four of the species listed

above, gilthead seabream being the major contributor.

production

• The National Mariculture Center is currently the leader in the region in

production of marine finfish juveniles. In 2009, the total production was 3

million juveniles of three species. The production size varies form 1.5-2g for fish farming activities and 5g for fish release (Table 1).

Geographic distribution of farming systems and characteristics

• At present, there is no commercial aquaculture being carried out in the

Kingdom.

• Only available culture facilities and equipments belong to NMC.13

�Sparidentex hastaا������ ��

�cultured species

ا�����ر ��� Epinephelus coioides

�Siganus canaliculatus ا����� �� ا���� ��� Lujanus argentimculatus

Table. 1 Production of Marine Finfish and Juveniles at the National Mariculture Center in Last Three Years.

Year Species Fry Produced (>1g) Fish Released to Sea Fish Exported

2007 Sobaity bream

(Sparidentex hasta)

European Sea

Bream (Sparus

aurata)

347,652

2,675,739

-

-

347,652

2,675,739

2008 European Sea

Bream (Sparus

aurata)

Sobaity bream

(Sparidentex hasta)

Grouper

(Epinephelus

coioides)

4,255,776

507,035

193,659

-

20,000

80,000

4,255,776

427,035

113,659

2009 Sobaity bream

(Sparidentex hasta)

European Sea

Bream (Sparus

aurata)

Grouper(Epinephelu

s coioides)

571,786

2,290,280

164,624

111,788

-

95,000

416,786

2,290,280

50,000

15

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CASE STUDY

�PROJECT : MARGIS I, 1998

AIM: Helping Preserve our Living Resources through Information, Research and Education

� Sponsors

1.Durrat Al Bahrain is the Kingdom’s largest planned

residential, leisure and tourist resort, being developed at a cost of

US$3 billion. The project is 50 percent owned by the Government of Bahrain and Kuwait Finance House (Bahrain), a leading Islamic

commercial and investment bank.

2.Esterad Established in 1973 as a trading company in

commodities under government concessions. The company invested

the surplus funds from core business into diversified portfolio of global and local investments.

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3. Islamic Development Bank:

The Islamic Development Bank is an international financial institution located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It was established in pursuanceof the Declaration of Intent issued by the Conference of FinanceMinisters of Muslim Countries held in Jeddah in Dhul Q'adah 1393H, corresponding to December 1973.

4. Public Commission for the protection of Marine Resources, Environment & Wildlife:

In recent years the marine ecosystem around Bahrain has been subjects to enormous stress as a result of increasing land reclamation sand fishing activities.

5. Economic Development Board (EDB):

The Economic Development Board is the first point of call for businesses wanting to make it happen in Bahrain. Working in close partnership with Government bodies and private-sector companies, EDB is creating the optimum business environment for Bahrain, to ensure the country attracts investment from abroad as well as encouraging the strong development of home-grown companies.

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� INVENTOR: GEOMATEC :

GEOMATEC was established as a subsidiary of Bahrain

Centre for Studies & Research (BCSR).

Mission: To help public and private sector organizations

succeed in deploying geo-spatial solutions that creates value

in their businesses.

Business Activity: GEOMATEC specializes in developing

geo-spatial information systems, and Location-based Services (LBS) and products to both public and private

sectors. The Center also provides consultancy in GIS &

Remote Sensing, and conducts R&D in relation to the utilization of such technologies for commercial applications.

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• Administrative

• Socio-Economical

• Marine Habitats Classes

• Offshore Features

• Fisheries Resources

• Endangered species

• Ecological Value Maps

• Satellite Imagery

• Multimedia

• Spatial analysis

OutlineOutline

ADMINISTATIVE

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Coast Line/Boarder/Reefs (Fashts)

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Pearl Oyster Banks/Sea bed/Fish Harbors

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Fisheries Resources

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Spatial Analysis/Depth Zones Calculate Polygon Area

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OutlineOutline

• Offshore field surveys

• Study of Endangered species (dugongs and sea turtles)

• Assessment of corals

• Data processing and analysis

• MARGIS-II web portal

• Marine Atlas book

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�� PROJECT : MARGIS II, 2006PROJECT : MARGIS II, 2006

• Around 900 points surveyed

• Data on flora and fauna collected e.g. seagrass, algae,

pearl oyster etc.

• Also, other data e.g. salinity, water temp. etc.

• Extensive video and still photography

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�� Offshore field surveysOffshore field surveys

�� Survey Equipments AcquiredSurvey Equipments Acquired

• Survey/ Research vessel

– 38 ft boat purchased

– Equipped with survey and diving gears

– Can accommodate up to 5 scientists/ technicians

• Submerged Habitat classifier System

– Used for mapping sea bottom habitat

• Water Profiler

– Used for measurements of water quality parameters

• GPS-based Navigation aids and echo sounder

• Diving gears

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� Survey from HelicopterSurvey from Helicopter

• Surveyed in October 2006 for 2 weeks

• Undertaken in collaboration with John Hopkins University, Australia

• Estimation of total number of dugongs

• Survey of Dolphin, sea-turtles and sea-snakes also.

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��Populations estimates and densities Populations estimates and densities

of dugongsof dugongs

��Total population of Dugongs = 1164Total population of Dugongs = 1164

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Other Findings

• No significant decline in total number of dugongs since the previous surveys

• A large herd of about 50 dugongs sighted near Fasht

Al Jarim (North of Bahrain)

• Estimated number of turtles = 284

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Assessment of coralsAssessment of corals

• Survey of coral reefs in May 2007

• In collaboration with University of Warwick, U.K.

• Reefs from Bulthama in the North to the Fasht Jarada to the east and Fasht Al Adham surveyed

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�Healthy reef in Bulthama

�Fasht Al Adham coral reef in 1985

�Fasht Al Adham in 2007

The three largest reef cover categories on Fasht Adhm,

1985 and 2007

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Coral Sand / rubble Bare rock

Major substrate categories

Perc

en

t co

ve

r o

f s

ub

str

ate

1985

2007

��Coral cover analysisCoral cover analysis

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• Team consists of scientists from various disciplines e.g. Marine biology, Fisheries, Remote Sensing, GIS and also GIS technicians

Data Processing and AnalysisData Processing and Analysis

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Satellite Image AcquiredSatellite Image Acquired

• Medium resolution

– ASTER imagery (15 m): Used for the classification of

marine habitats

– IRS imagery (5 m): Used for visualization

• High Resolution

– IKONOS (1 m)

• Mapping coastal changes

• Mapping all the 33 islands

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�Analyzing Aerial Images

�Digital Image Processing and

GIS analysis

The MARGIS databaseThe MARGIS database

• Marine Habitats classified into 16 different types from

satellite images

• Endangered species maps

• Fishing areas

• Field Survey data

• Ecological Value Index

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MARGIS II Web PortalMARGIS II Web Portal

• Serve as a gateway to the marine features and related material in Bahrain on the web

• Provide access to students, teachers, researchers and professionals working in various fields

• Facilitate planners with update information on the marine and coastal features

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Marine Atlas

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CHALLAGE FOR DEVELOPING

FISHERIES GIS:

� No available section of GIS in functional structure of Fisheries Department

� No available GIS specialists in Fisheries Department

� No budget

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Thank YouThank You