The Red Sea reefs cover an area of more than 1500 km with associated eco-systems such as, islands, mangroves, and marsh. Most of the reefs in the red sea grow directly from the shoreline. A coral beach in the Red sea, Eilat, May 29, 2009. Why is the Red Sea’s reef unique? 90 Wall Street Aside from the numerous reasons coral reefs matter in terms of their value to humanity, they also are just amazing in their own right! Statistically speaking, the Red Sea Reef is the largest coral reef system in all of Africa and the third largest reef system in the world. The red sea coral reef is northernmost in the Indian ocean. Bleaching has occurred in the Red Sea as far north as Hurghada (Furby et al., 2013; El-Askary et al., 2014; Monroe et al., 2018; Khaled, 2019). Red algae is a very important member of a coral reef. The Red Sea Coral Reef How can we improve this? download . This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. An interdisciplinary team of international research scientists utilized the M/Y Golden Shadow to assess the coral reef resources of the Saudi Arabian Red Sea coastline. (Anna Kaplan/Flash90) It is the home of over 1,000 species of invertebrates, 250 species of both soft and hard coral and over 1,100 species of fish that live in clear waters with visibility up to 40 meters.. AQABA, JORDAN CREDIT: WARREN BAVERSTOCK / coral reef image bank. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. An easy-clean alternative to the 4”/10cm micron filter bag. Scientists estimate that by mid-century approximately 90% of the world’s coral reefs will be severely degraded because they cannot survive in the warming waters of the world’s oceans. The Red Sea is between arid land, desert and semi-desert. We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Red Sea reefs are cited as among the richest in the world for overall species diversity. Coral reefs are a hub of biodiversity and life. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Our first destination in the Red Sea was the Farasan Islands in 2006, followed by Ras Al-Qasabah in 2007, Al Wajh and Yanbu in 2008, and Farasan Bank in 2009. It is one of the longest continuous living reefs in the world, extending along 4,000 kilometers of the Red Sea’s shoreline. The reef extends 1,240 miles (2,000 km) along the coastline of Africa (Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea). Red Sea reef Foundation Did you know that coral reefs are a huge source of potential natural products and medicines? Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Coral reefs are crucially important to humanity in so many ways–we owe it to ourselves and to future generations to do everything in our power to protect them from localized threats and from climate change. Reef systems are better developed along the Red Sea mainly because of its greater depths and an efficient water circulation pattern. The governments are not doing anything to help this ecosystem because they're letting people swim in the Red Sea and destroy the reefs. Boats also destroy the reefs Red algae can produce calcium carbonate which makes the plants hard and resistant to water. Red Sea coral reefs ‘under threat’ from Israel-UAE oil deal. Scientists estimate that reefs support about 4,000 species of fish, 800 species of hard corals and literally millions of other species! The Red Sea gets its name by the proliferation of algae that give a reddish tint to its waters. Scientists estimate that by mid-century approximately 90% of the world’s coral reefs will be severely degraded because they cannot survive in the warming waters of the world’s oceans. The Red Sea harbours a set of unique ecological characteristics, such as high temperature, high alkalinity, and high salinity, in a quasi-isolated environment. red sea CREDIT: brook peterson / coral reef image bank. Support groundbreaking research on the Red Sea’s uniquely resilient corals and promote regional and global scientific collaboration and conservation. Limiting tourism and industry would stop the accidental destruction of coral and sea life. The entire coastal reef complex extends about 2000km. “The coral reefs are 200 meters (yards) from where the oil will be unloaded,” said Shmulik Taggar, an Eilat resident and founding member of the Society for Conservation of the Red Sea Environment. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Red Sea coral reefs are particularly well developed in the north and central portions (off the coasts of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Sudan), with large sizable offshore reef complexes containing small islands, fringing reefs, and a variety of reef-associated habitats (see photo, above). download . This underwater eco-system is home to over 300 species of coral and 1,000 species of fish, 10% of which are found nowhere else in the world. Thanks for supporting the study and conservation of a unique global resource. It is estimated that 1/3 of all humans live within 60 miles of the sea. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Last but certainly not least, coral reefs are intrinsically woven into the cultures and traditions of countless communities across the globe. These cookies do not store any personal information. It is also the world’s most northern tropical sea. “The coral reefs are 200 meters (yards) from where the oil will be unloaded,” said Shmulik Taggar, an Eilat resident and founding member of the Society for Conservation of the Red Sea … This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Red Sea coral reefs are known for their remarkable heat tolerance and resiliency in the face of rising sea temperatures, but many reefs are threatened by other factors such … Its reef platforms are over 5000 years old. Upgrade or create your system and unlock great discounts! Gorgeous Red Sea Soft Corals. The Red Sea Reefer combined with an advanced LED lighting system. Coral Reef. I actually had a dream a few nights back that I was hanging in the blue off a reef in the Red Sea. New York, NY 10005. Corals in the Gulf of Aqaba, at the northernmost portion of the Red Sea, withstand water temperature irregularities that cause severe bleaching or mortality in most hard corals elsewhere. But the northern Red Sea’s corals are thriving even as the ocean’s temperature continues to rise. Defines and maintains the correctly balanced levels of calcium, Accurately replenishes the 31 minor and trace elements that enable corals to display their natural colors, Iodine | Pottasium | Iron | Bromine | Flurine, Controlled reduction of nitrates and phosphates, prevents nuisance algae & enhances coral coloration, Ensures complete biological maturation and algae management, A range of high quality, reusable aquarium filter bags, The complete Plug & Play® Open Top Reef System, The complete Plug & Play Open Top Reef System, Red Sea MAX true REEF-SPEC for a successful reef. Since its inception over 20 years ago, Red Sea’s vision has been to create a world in which marine and reef aquariums are the aquariums of choice for all hobbyists by providing complete reef solutions. Red Sea Coral Reef Snorkeling at Ras Mohamed National Park with Lunch, Sharm El Sheikh: Tickets, Tours, Address, Phone Number, Red Sea Coral Reef Snorkeling at Ras Mohamed National Park with Lunch Reviews: 4.5/5 Get a customized recipe with recommended salt & supplements, Get our QC lab analysis of the specific batch of salt you purchased, Defines & maintains the correctly balanced levels of Calcium, Alkalinity & Magnesium, Provides the 31 minor and trace elements necessary for coral vitality and color, Complete control of nitrate & phosphates, and reduction of nuisance algae, Tests and Supplements for the maintenance of Marine Fish tanks, Biological Maturation Program for all Marine and Reef Systems, Carbohydrates, Amino Acids, Fatty Acids & Vitamins, Guaranteed, reef-safe elimination of Aiptasia, Premium live and dry aragonite sands for marine and reef aquariums, Highly activated carbon for marine and reef aquariums, A range of high quality, reusable felt and thin-mesh aquarium filter bags, Fully-featured 75 liter/20 gallon Plug & Play® Reef System, Ultimate full-size, fully-featured reef systems. Fish are often very vigorous when they feed off of them. We literally can’t afford not to protect them! The Red Sea reef system is one of the world’s longest, stretching down some 4,000 kilometers (2,485 miles) of coastline. Global warming has in recent years caused colourful coral reefs to bleach and die around the world -- but not in the Gulf of Eilat, or Aqaba, part of the northern Red Sea. Coral reefs act as natural buffers, protecting shorelines from waves, floods, and storms, preventing loss of life, property damage, and erosion. As seas warm and acidify with climate change, corals worldwide are bleaching – but in the north of the Red Sea there is a ray, or rather reef, of hope. 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. They grow in sheltered areas because they cannot withstand high wave-action. Stopping sewage and Anyone who has had the chance to strap on a pair of goggles and explore a reef understands the incredible beauty and wonder that lives under the waves. Even though in some places they are abundant, they might not be very conspicuous. A scuba diver checks coral reefs in the Red Sea off the southern Israeli resort city of Eilat on June 12, 2017. The Red Sea water mass-exchanges its water with the Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean via the Gulf of Aden. welcome to the red sea environmental centre (RSEC) Please visit our new website: www.rsec.info The Red Sea Environmental Centre (RSEC) is a collaboration of mare-mundi.eu (NGO registered in Austria) and the individual enterprise Christian von Mach (registered in Germany). "Along the Red Sea, there is a very long stretch of coral reef, straddling right next to the shore which is very much affected by development and pollution happening on the coast. The fact that the Red Sea corals are likely to survive when other reefs are dead, gives us scientists a unique opportunity, notably to understand more thoroughly these unique organisms and the ecosystems they support. It is one of the longest continuous living reefs in the world, extending along 4,000 kilometers of the Red Sea’s shoreline. The Red Sea is a unique body of water, hosting some of the most productive and diverse coral reefs. Accurately replenishes the 31 minor and trace elements, that enable corals to display their natural colors, phosphates, prevents nuisance algae & enhances coral coloration. The corals that are thriving despite warming ocean temperatures are found only in the northernmost section of the Red Sea – i.e., in the Gulf of Aqaba. These physical factors reduce the effect of high salinity caused by evaporation in the north and relatively hot water in the south. Therefore, the most urgent objective is to advance immediate protection of the Gulf of Aqaba as a World Heritage Site, with Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and Saud… Coral populations around the world are under threat from bleaching caused by climate change, these reefs are stable due to their unique heat resistance. Rimless reef-ready systems for advanced hobbyists. Coral reef degradation has increased dramatically during the last three decades, particularly along the Egyptian Red Sea coast due to man-made disturbances such as global warming and other stressors, according to a study from the Benha University. Problems in the Red Sea Coral Reef Things that might disrupt this ecosystem by Natural and Human caused activity. RSEC promotes coral reef research, education and conservation at the Red Sea. Coral reefs add $36 billion annually to the global economy through tourism, jobs, and fisheries. The upright and crustose forms of red algae bind and infill coral skeletons to form massive sedimentary structures which are … I’m not sure which one, I don’t think it was specified, but it certainly had all the splendor of one of the offshore ones, somewhere in the south. As climate change creates more severe storms and the global population continues to increase, we will need these natural barriers more than ever. thomas reef, tiran island credit: Renata romeo / coral reef image bank. Red Sea Reef Care Program is the result of years of research & offers a complete solution for optimal coral health, growth & enhanced coloration Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. This uniquely resilient reef ecosystem may emerge as one of the planet’s largest marine refuges from climate change. In the age of COVID-19 we have seen more than ever the importance of vaccines and medical research. The warm water and absence of fresh water runoff provide suitable conditions for coral reef formation adjacent to the coastline. Sea Grasses: They grow right at the base of the reef. In fact, these corals are predicted to be among the last to survive the coming decades. The most actively growing corals include most notably highly branched species of the genera Acropora and Porites. Photo by: MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP/Getty Images Bibliography We can put a stop to coastal mining so as to not destroy habitats, food sources and species of marine life. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. SHARM-EL-SHEIKH-EGYPT CREDIT: ANETT SZASZI / coral reef image bank. The fact that the Red Sea coral reefs are the best developed in the western Indian Ocean is not surprising; more than 60 different genera of reef forming corals are found in the Red Sea alone with an exceedingly large recorded number of species. We must act now to secure the Red Sea’s coral reef for future generations. In the azure waters of the Red Sea, Maoz Fine and his team dive to study what may be the planet's most unique coral: one that can survive global warming, at least for now. It provides an up-to-date review on the geology, ecology, and physiology of coral reef ecosystems in the Red Sea, including data from most recent molecular studies. The coral reefs of the Red Sea are comprised of more than 200 species of scleractinian corals, representing the highest diversity in any section of the Indian Ocean. download . By Eric Gaba (Sting - fr:Sting) - Own work (see complete description on Image:Red_Sea_topographic_map-en.svg), CC BY-SA 4.0, Link. Suite 1831 You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. A growing body of research from across the region is leading marine scientists to a compelling possibility: that a large range of corals along the 4,000km Red Sea reef are … However, reef development varies from north to south in the Red Sea.