Aqaba, Dec. 17 (Petra)- A scientific team from the Saudi-based General Organization for the Conservation of Coral Reefs and Sea Turtles in the Red Sea (SHAMS), in cooperation with the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) and the United Nations Development Programme in Jordan, carried out field assessments and technical studies aimed at determining the environmental and physical carrying capacity of 14 diving sites in the city of Aqaba.

The cooperation comes within the framework of ASEZA's vision and its ongoing efforts to enhance the sustainable management of the Aqaba Marine Reserve, support regional cooperation, and apply best scientific practices in the management of diving sites in a manner that contributes to preserving the marine environment of the Gulf of Aqaba and ensuring its sustainability for future generations.

The sites were selected in accordance with approved scientific methodologies, in coordination with ASEZA and the Aqaba Marine Reserve, with the aim of regulating diving activities and reducing environmental pressures on coral reefs.

The assessments included analysis of diver use density, evaluation of diving center practices, and measurement of visitor perceptions, with the aim of determining sustainable use limits for each site and proposing specialized administrative and regulatory measures that contribute to protecting marine ecosystems and ensuring the sustainability of tourism activity within the framework of the Gulf of Aqaba Flexible Coral Reefs Programme (GFCR).

The study also included the implementation of environmental surveys using advanced scientific methods, including timed roving surveys and photo-quadrat imaging at depths of 5, 10 and 20 meters, in addition to social surveys that included questionnaires directed at divers, visitors and diving center operators, with environmental and social indicators integrated to reach a comprehensive and accurate assessment of the carrying capacity of each site.

A specialized technical meeting was held with the participation of representatives of the diving sector in Aqaba and relevant stakeholders, with the aim of enhancing understanding and application of carrying capacity concepts in the management of diving sites and developing working mechanisms that achieve a balance between protecting coral reefs and sustaining marine activities.

The meeting addressed a number of themes, most notably the concept of carrying capacity and its importance, its impact on marine ecosystems, the repercussions of unsustainable diving practices on coral reef habitats, as well as the technical criteria adopted in assessment processes and the environmental factors and human pressures affecting diving sites.

//Petra// AF