Population: 629,090  (July 1999 est.) note: includes 227,801 non-nationals  (July 1999 est.) Land Area: 620 sq km Coastline: 161 km (Source:  CIA World Factbook 1999)

Bahrain                                 ..........in this page Contacts Basic Data CSD Data Ocean and Coastal Zone Integrated Decision-Making Integrated Planning and Management for Environmental Resources Status Information Regional Co-operation     Contacts Bahrain Government Homepage http://www.bahrain.gov.bh/ Ministry of Housing, Municipalities, and Environment http://www.mohme.gov.bh/ (Source:  CIA World Factbook 1999)   SUMMARY OF OCEAN  AND COASTAL PROGRAMS Many thanks are due to the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, the source of the information below. The information was taken from Bahrain's submission to the 7th Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (last update: January 1999). For further information on social and economic factors, natural resources, and institutional structures in Bahrain see the United Nations System-Wide Web Site on National Implementation of the Rio Commitments National Information for Bahrain at http://www.un.org/esa/agenda21/natlinfo/countr/bahrain/index.htm   OCEAN AND COASTAL AREAS Bahrain signed the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in 1982 and the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil in 1985. Integrated Decision-Making A national committee was formulated to prepare a national strategy to execute the Agenda 21 program. Many meetings were held to define the priorities, and committees were formed to consider five environmental issues, one of which is the Protection of the Marine Environment. This committee is chaired by the National Committee for the Protection of Wildlife, with members representing the Directorate of Fisheries, Bahrain Centre for Studies and Research, University of Bahrain, Ministry of Housing, Municipalities and Environment, Ministry of Education, Bahrain National History Society. The main tasks of this committee were (1) To prepare guidelines to protect coastal zones, and especially those which are economically important; (2) To prepare an action plan to protect marine resources , with an emphasis on those which are nationally and internationally important; (3) To study the climate change effects on coastal zones; and (4) To prepare a plan to encourage research related to marine environment and effecting factors. In the sustainable development policy that results from these consultations, there are six main priority issues, one of which is Terrestrial and Marine Resources. The following is taken from that policy. Bahrain, being a small island developing State suffers tremendously of small land areas. Therefore great attention is being given to this issue to enable a sound utilization of coastal areas and resources. Expansion of land at the expense of coastal areas constitutes a major concern. There is a pressing need to develop an integrated approach to the protection and management of land and marine resources, taking into account the opportunities of tourism and much needed coastal and off-shore development. National Conservation of Land of Special Interest (Mangrove at Hawar Islands) (Achieved) Planning for Land Use, three categories are: (In progress) -- Residential -- Industrial -- Commercial and Agricultural Formation of land Reclamation Mechanism (in progress) Coastal Zone Management (in progress) Developing a Strategy for Environmental Resources Management (in progress) Regional Ratifying Regional Protocol concerning Marine Pollution resulting from Exploration and Exploitation of Continental Shelf. International Ratifying International Conventions that deals with the Protection of Specially Designated Areas e.g. Ramsar Convention. In addition, the sustainable development policy contains a project proposal in this area, as follows:   Integrated Planning and Management for Environmental Resources Bahrain is limited on geographical space and area, and the policy is to expand the development on reclaimed area gained from the intertidal zone. There is definitely a need for an integrated approach for land reclamation procedures. Such an approach will provide a full, comprehensive picture to ensure the best and wisest use of land, water and other resources, with the minimum of conflict and the sustainability of the Bahrain environment. The proposed project will also ensure that conservation of Bahrain's Biodiversity becomes an integral part of its development strategy thus ensuring the provision of institutional, human and financial resources through both public and private sources. To develop an integrated approach to the protection and management of Bahrain's environmental resources, on land and in its coastal and marine waters. It will also address Environmental Quality Standards, the Environmental Impact Assessment Process, ecotourism opportunities, species at risk and threatened habitats. Status 1. Marine Water Quality There are many factors affecting marine water quality. Urban centres along the coast cause tremendous stress to the vulnerable coastal environment by discharging treated and untreated sewage into the shallow coastal waters, together with industrial effluents and irrigation drainage water. Shortage of land for development has prompted Bahrain to reclaim more land from the sea by dredging. In the early years of reclamation and dredging activities, only low cost considerations were studied and environmental constraints were not given high priority. Unfortunately most of these reclamation activities have caused an increase in the turbidity of sea water, induced siltation and destroyed benthic communities of these areas. This dredging and reclamation activity has to continue as part of developmental activities. 2. Land-based sources of Pollution The main guiding principle of the Environmental Affairs Agency (EA) is to balance development objectives with environmental protection. Sustainable industrial development and protection and conservation of Bahrain's natural resources are the ultimate goals. Industry is being asked to promote cleaner technology, minimize waste, install pollution control equipment, increase efficiency and recycling. New development projects are carefully analysed by the EA and, where necessary, the developer is requested to submit environmental impact statements. As a result of Government efforts and EA policy to mitigate and minimize stress and hazards to the environment, the discharge of untreated and insufficiently treated waste water into the sea has been reduced through the expansion of the sewerage system, the installation of treatment plants among large industries, environmentally oriented industries and the improvement of some treatment facilities in various plants. Furthermore, Environmental Affairs has requested all industries through Ministry of Oil and Industry (MoOI) to perform self monitoring for their effluent and to report the result periodically to EA. This strategy is to ensure the involvement of all sectors in minimizing emission to the environment and hence to conserve it. The role of EA in this regard would be to collect random samples to ensure the quality and compliance with discharge guidelines of the analysis. Effluent guidelines are mandatory to all existing plants discharging their effluent into the marine environment. This is meant to ensure that the high potential hazardous chemicals are not being discharged to the marine environment. Moreover, EA and MoOI have realized the importance of incorporating Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for new industries, whereby both parties have signed "A memorandum of Understanding" which provides a flexible system to promote both industrial investment and sustainable development. This has been re-stated in the Amiri decree-law No. 21 (1996), where the industry and the development -in general- shall get the approval and the consent of EA, before the start of the project. The EA has prepared the EIA procedures for development projects and will be ordered by H.E. the Minister. Waste water is generally classified as of either domestic or industrial origin. Domestic waste water is derived principally from residential, business and institutional uses. The domestic waste water of communities tends to be uniform in character. Industrial waste water may be thought of as waste flow not originating from domestic sources. Each type of waste water is unique. It generally reflects the raw material components, the intermediate products, the end products and by-products of a particular manufacturing or production process. The major sources of coastal pollution in Bahrain are the domestic sewage and industrial effluents, discharged from urban, rural and industrial areas. The effluents are discharged into the marine environment through numerous outfall located along the coast. The quality of the effluent and their pollution strength vary from one area to another and from one outfall to another depending on the degree and type of treatment. However, most industrial effluents and the domestic sewerage outfalls are located along the east coast of Sitra extending about 10 km, which causes immense stress to the vulnerable coastal environment and, as a result, requires monitoring. Environmental Affairs has initiated a monitoring program with the ultimate goal of establishing sound management of effluent discharge into the marine environment. The following strategies were adopted to achieve the goal: (1) Establish a data base; (2) Assess stress on the marine environment; (3) Establish national standards on effluent discharge into the marine environment; and (4) Implement periodical monitoring and evaluation programs. The impact on the marine environment of effluents from major industries has been investigated and monitored since 1983. Thirty-seven physical and chemical parameters were measured for each industrial effluent. The results indicate that most of the industrial effluents are within the acceptable limits in accordance with EA interim effluent guidelines as well as USEPA and Saudi Meteorology and Environmental Protection Administration (MEPA) effluent standards. Therefore, there is no major impact on overall marine environment. On the regional scale, an attempt has been made to describe the kind of pollutants expected from industrial activities, the danger posed to the marine environment and to human health by pollution from land-based sources and the serious problems resulting in coastal waters of many regional states, principally due to the release of untreated, insufficiently treated and/or inadequately disposed of domestic or industrial discharge. Noting that the existing measures to prevent, abate and combat pollution caused by discharge from these activities were not available, a protocol has been signed by all countries in 1990, and ratified by Bahrain in April 1990 entitled Protocol From the Protection of the Marine Environment Against Pollution From Land Based Sources. Accordingly, all member states are obliged to report periodically, their effluent analysis to the ROPME. This should ultimately lead to sound management with control on all land-based effluent discharge into the marine environment. 3. Regulate marine dredging and land reclamation activities Proper management and control is needed to regulate the coastal activities in order to minimize the adverse effects of dredging and land reclamation on the marine environment. Hence, in coordination with other relevant Governmental authorities, an assessment of the impact of dredging and land reclamation on the environment was undertaken. Appropriate alternative approaches concerning environmentally sound management of such activities has been formulated through the involvement of all authorities concerned with the process and impact of reclamation and land dredging to ensure sound decisions and reduced impacts. 4. Sustainable Fisheries Development Fish catch has been reduced due to the number of boats and fishermen, to indiscriminate land reclamation and excavation activities, and to destruction of coral reefs. An artificial reef development program has been undertaken by the Fisheries Directorate and has been succeeding in breeding juvenile fish in the reefs. A commercial pilot project is underway to keep artificial reefs in various areas. This could enhance the marine ecosystems in a manner that maintains productivity and preservation for future generations. Information Coastal Zone Management and Marine Habitat Survey: Using Landsat-V a study was conducted to determine marine ecology in Bahrain's coastal water. This study of 312 sites mapped the ecology of all the shorelines and coastal areas. The final product was a set of 17 maps depicting the distribution of marine habitats, coastal ecology and areas recommended for protection, as well as a comprehensive volume describing the habitats of the marine environment including the physical, chemical and biological influences. After an interim of ten years, the survey will be repeated, in June 1997, to determine the changes that might have occurred to the habitats cover. Among other things, the studies confirmed that reclamation and coastal activities have adversely affected the intertidal habitats, and mangroves were also found on the verge of destruction. An integrated coastal zone management approach has since been adopted as the most effective mechanism that could manage the marine environment and achieve sustainability. Included in this approach is the designation of "Sensitive Natural Areas." Details can be found in the section on Biodiversity, above. Regional Co-operation The eight coastal States of the region (Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE) have coordinated a common action to protect the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. Consequently ROPME was established on 24 April 1978 to be the governing body to fulfill this goal. Several protocols have been adopted to facilitate coordination between member states to implement the regional programs and activities. Accordingly, Bahrain has signed and ratified the following protocols:   Kuwait Regional convention for the co-operation on the protection of marine environment from pollution. Signed in Kuwait on 23 April, 1978 and ratified on 1 April, 1979.   Protocol concerning regional cooperation in combating pollution by oil and other harmful substances in case of emergency. Signed in Kuwait on 23 April, 1978 and ratified on 1 April, 1979.   Protocol for the protection of the marine environment against pollution from land based sources, Kuwait. Signed 21 February, 1989 and ratified on 16 May, 1990   Protocol concerning marine pollution resulting from exploration and exploitation of the continental shelf. Signed in Kuwait 29 March, 1989 and ratified on 16 May, 1990. In addition, in 1985, the head of States of the Gulf Cooperative Council (GCC) adopted the general principles on the protection of the environment in the region to form the basic guidelines and Code of Conduct towards the individual and collective programs and activities in the various disciplines of the environment.   This information was provided by the Government of Bahrain to the fifth and seventh sessions of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last update: February 1999   (top)

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