title: The growing need for sustainable ecological management of marine communities of the Persian Gulf.
abstract: The Persian Gulf is a semi-enclosed marine system surrounded by eight countries, many of which are experiencing substantial development. It is also a major center for the oil industry. The increasing array of anthropogenic disturbances may have substantial negative impacts on marine ecosystems, but this has received little attention until recently. We review the available literature on the Gulfs marine environment and detail our recent experience in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) to evaluate the role of anthropogenic disturbance in this marine ecosystem. Extensive coastal development may now be the single most important anthropogenic stressor. We offer suggestions for how to build awareness of environmental risks of current practices, enhance regional capacity for coastal management, and build cooperative management of this important, shared marine system. An excellent opportunity exists for one or more of the bordering countries to initiate a bold and effective, long-term, international collaboration in environmental management for the Gulf.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Water, Environment and Health, United Nations Universityu, Hamilton, ON, Canada. sale@uwindsor.ca
authors.forename: Peter F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Sale
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Feary
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Burt
authors.forename: Andrew G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Bauman
authors.forename: Geórgenes H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Cavalcante
authors.forename: Kenneth G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Drouillard
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kjerfve
authors.forename: Elise
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marquis
authors.forename: Charles G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Trick
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Usseglio
authors.forename: Hanneke
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Van Lavieren
mesh_terms: D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006802:Human Activities; D006801:Humans; D019156:Indian Ocean; D012623:Seawater; D014479:United Arab Emirates; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical