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Introduction |
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The Gulf of Aqaba is the most northerly coral reef in the world, and is characterized by rich and diverse habitats with over 1,000 species of tropical fish, 110 species of reef building corals, and 120 species of soft corals. |
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The Gulf is blessed with important land based natural and cultural resources as well. The meeting of the high desert mountains with the deep blue waters of the sea and its underwater wonder world attracts thousands of tourists each year.
Both cities, Eilat, in Israel, and Aqaba, in Jordan, are major centers of development in the Gulf of Aqaba. Located at the head of the Gulf, these cities have a combined population of about 85,000 people and are growing rapidly. They each have their own sea ports, industrial areas, tourist and other economic facilities, all in a very limited coastline. Gulf waters are often dotted with oil tankers, commercial vessels, and pleasure crafts of all kinds. Tourists flock to the area in hundreds of thousands, attracted by the sun, beaches, the coral reefs and the clear air. The increasing tourism and industrial development provide economic opportunities for the people of the region, but has placed the Gulfs unique ecosystem at risk and has increased the need to protect the resources and beauty of the Gulf.
The 27 km. long Jordanian shoreline of the Gulf provides the only access to the sea for Jordan for ships, transport, fishing, industrial development and coastal tourism. In addition, in 2001, the Jordanian government approved a plan to transform Aqaba into a special economic zone, which plans to attract investment to Aqaba and contribute to the national economic growth. In the master plan of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA), an 8 km. long southern tourism area is being developed, aiming at commercial and residential development by utilizing the beach, coral reefs and other natural features to meet the growing tourism market with a special emphasis on self-catering, holiday villages and resorts, and camping areas to further encourage tourism.
FoEME in partnership with three of its member organizations, launched a three year project to promote sustainable tourism around the Aqaba Gulf through working with tourist service providers. Activities included environmental education activities for children visiting the Red Sea, workshops with scuba diving centers to help reduce damage done to corals by divers, and workshops and meetings with local tourist service providers and with local government in an effort to incorporate environmental management techniques in policy and practice.
FoEME also participated in "Clean-up the World" activities by organizing international coastal and underwater clean-ups of the Red Sea, together with local communities and NGOs, scuba divers, and other interested parties.
FoEME's "Say No to Plastic Bags" campaign was instrumental in passing a law in Aqaba banning the sale and use of plastic bags with a thickness less than 20 Microns and not exceeding the range of 10 % of the total bag thickness.
Photo #2 Mary Lou Frost
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