US embassy cable - 04AMMAN8438

UNCLAS AMMAN 008438 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE for OES/Oceans 
INTERIOR for FWS and for INTERNATIONAL/Washburne 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SENV, JO 
SUBJECT:  ARTIFICIAL CORAL REEFS: SHARING THE JORDANIAN 
EXPERIENCE WITH OTHER RED SEA COUNTRIES 
 
 
1.  Summary:  The Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority 
(ASEZA) organized and hosted a September 27-29 regional 
meeting in Aqaba entitled "Artificial Reefs in the Gulf of 
Aqaba."  Keynote speaker ASEZA Environment and Health 
Commissioner Dr. Bilal Bashir emphasized regional 
cooperation, comprehensive planning, and public 
participation in confronting environmental challenges. 
Eleven participants representing research institutions from 
Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Yemen, Egypt, Djibouti, and Jordan 
attended the workshop. End summary. 
 
Jordan and Egypt Only Ones with Pilot Projects 
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2.  Jordan and Egypt are the only Red Sea countries with 
artificial reef projects.  By rehabilitating damaged reefs 
or creating new ones, these projects aim at preserving 
marine biodiversity and having positive economic and 
cultural impacts.  Jordan's pilot project costs USD 30,000 
and is fully funded by the Regional Organization for the 
Conservation of the Environment in the Red Sea and the Gulf 
of Aqaba (PERSGA - www.persga.org).  Egypt's project is at a 
smaller scale and is funded by a company operating tourist 
submarines in the resort city of Hurghada on the Red Sea. 
 
Adopt a Coral 
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3.  The technique of the Jordan pilot project starts with 
designing cement blocks of different shapes, sizes and 
weights.  These blocks are put in the sea in sandy areas so 
they will not affect existing corals.  Coral larvae, moved 
by currents, attach themselves to the blocks, thus naturally 
creating new coral colonies.  ASEZA also has a program for 
recreational divers called "adopt a coral sapling."  The 
program uses coral saplings that grew on cans or tires that 
were taken out through clean-up campaigns.  The corals are 
placed on small plastic pieces.  Divers can take the coral 
via its plastic base and attach it to the underwater cement 
blocks. 
 
Comment 
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4.  Participants thought the pilot project was a success and 
they enthusiastically expressed their interest in having 
similar artificial reef projects in their countries. 
Participating countries are eagerly looking for funding from 
the U.S. and other donors for this work. 
 
HALE