King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM) was established on 23, September 1963.

Over 8,000 undergraduate students in 15 departments and programs are currently pursuing baccalaureate degrees at KFUPM.

The Research Institute (RI) has 11 centers with major focus on applied research.

Center for Environment and Water of RI has 3 sections viz., Water resources Environmental section and Marine Studies Section (MSS).

About KFUPM

Marine Studies Section of CEW (RI)

Center for Environment & Water (CEW) has a strong relationship with Saudi Aramco in the area of environmental protection for the past 3 decades.

It started with an oil spill simulation study in 1980 and subsequently diversified into several areas of mutual benefits.

Sustaining research program in Marine studies, which started in1984 played a pivotal role in development of long-term research relationship

Fisheries Contribution Major Fisheries resources of Arabian Gulf

Fish forms the largest renewable aquatic living resource in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The fishery fleet in the Saudi waters of the Arabian Gulf comprises Approximately 2,000 traditional boats with

40 industrial boats operated by a workforce of about 7,000 fishermen and fishery workers.

Introduction

S. No Common Name Scientific Name1 Seerfish Scomberomorus commerson

2 Orange spotted grouper Epinephelus diacanthus3 Areolate grouper Epinephelus bleekeri4 Yellowfinhind Cephalopholis hemistiktos5 Spangled emperor Lethrinus nebulosus6 Pinkear emperor Lethrinus lentjan7 Sobaity seabream Sparidentex hasta8 Goldlined seabream Rhabdosargus sarba9 King soldier bream Argyrops spinifer

10 Twobar sea bream Acanthopagrus bifasciatus11 Rabbit fish Siganus canaliculatus12 Malabar trevally Carangoides malabaricus13 Balckfin scad Alepes melanoptera14 African pompano Alectis ciliaris15 Humphead snapper Lutjanus sanguineus16 Sordid sweetlip Plectorhinchus sordidus17 Blackspot snapper Lutjanus fulviflamma18 Cobia Rachycentron canadum19 Shrimps Penaeus semisulcatus20 Cuttlefishes Sepia pharaonis

List of commercially important fishes

King Fish (Scomberomorus commerson) Grouper (Epinephelus coioides) Emperors (Lethrinus nebulosus)

Rabbit fish (Siganus canaliculatus) Carangids (Caranx ignobilis) Shrimps (Penaeus semisulcatus)

Major Fish Resources

Major Threats

Saudi Arabian marine fish resources and habitats remain increasingly threatened by various stressors such as dredging, shipping, fishing operations, and oil spills.

Overfishing - a major adverse stressor to fisheries productivity in the region.

Management Strategy

An effective management framework is required to ensure sustainable fisheries productivity.

Technical advice for policy and legislative improvements is required to protect marine environment.

Background and rationale

Study Area

Fish and shrimp grounds

Fish grounds Shrimp grounds

Components of Fisheries Program

Population Dynamics and Stock Assessment of the Major Fisheries Resources in Saudi Arabian Waters.

Assessment and Management of Essential Fish Habitats in Saudi Arabian Waters.

Environmental Impacts of Fishing Methods in Saudi Arabia: Towards Mitigation and Management.

Development of a Strategic Framework for Fisheries Management in Saudi Arabia.

Population Dynamics and Stock Assessment of the Major Fisheries Resources in Saudi Arabian Waters

Insufficient data on the population dynamics and stock assessment on the marine fish resources of Saudi Gulf waters.

Objectives:

Conduct assessments of the major commercial fisheries stocks.

Elucidate the population dynamics of these stocks.

Relate the population dynamics with the current exploitation patterns in Saudi waters.

Recommend appropriate measures to improve the fisheries performance.

Population Dynamics and Stock Assessment of the Major Fisheries Resources in Saudi Arabian Waters

General Tasks:

MOBILIZATIONManpower, equipments, Permits and other infrastructures

ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT Recruitment, collaboration with international organisations

REVIEW OF LITERATURE AND HISTORICAL DATA

Publications and collection of historical catch and effort of fisheries

EXPERIMENTAL FISHING SURVEY AND DATA COLLECTION

Fisheries survey, Acoustic survey, Landing center data collection

DATA ANALYSISBiological data analysis, stock assessment models and evaluation of fisheries models.

MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONSRecommend fisheries management measures and legislative framework

REPORTINGPrepare and submit Progress Reports

Assessment and Management of Essential Fish Habitats in Saudi Arabian Waters

Essential Fishing Habitats (EFH) are those waters and substrate necessary to fish for spawning, breeding, feeding or growth to maturity.

Objectives:

Identify and characterize the extent and status of EFHs.

Conduct an assessment of the conditions of the EFHs.

Develop an integrated map of all identified EFHs through GIS.

Identify the major stressors, both man-made and natural to the EFHs.

Assessment and Management of Essential Fish Habitats in Saudi Arabian Waters

General Tasks:

MOBILIZATIONManpower, equipments, Permits and other infrastructures

ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT Recruitment, collaboration with international organisations

REVIEW OF LITERATURE AND HISTORICAL DATA

Publications, biotope maps and data on known EFHS

FIELD WORK AND DATA COLLECTIONData collection, evaluation and assessment of EFHs

DATA ANALYSISPhysical, chemical and biological data analysis of selected EFHS

MAPPING THROUGH GIS APPLICATIONApplication of GIS and image analysis tools

HABITAT IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND ANALYSIS

Analysis of the potential impacts and their assessments

FORMULATION OF MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR EFHs

Formulate an integrated management system

REPORTINGPrepare and submit Progress Reports

Major Threats to EFH

Environmental Impacts of Fishing Methods in Saudi Arabia - Towards Mitigation and Management

Sparse information exists about the environmental impacts of fishing methods in Saudi Arabia.

Conduct a complete inventory of all fishing methods.

Elucidate the ecological and economic impacts.

Provide recommendations.

Objectives:

Environmental Impacts of Fishing Methods in Saudi Arabia - Towards Mitigation and Management

General Tasks:

MOBILIZATIONManpower, equipments, Permits and other infrastructures

ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT Recruitment, collaboration with international organisations

REVIEW OF LITERATURE AND HISTORICAL DATA

Publications and collection of fisheries data

FIELD WORK AND DATA COLLECTIONField visits to harbors, experimental fishing, data on fishing vessels and gears

INVENTORY AND CHARACTERIZATION OF FISHING METHODS

Perform of an inventory all fishing methods and gear

ASSESSMENT OF FISHING IMPACTSFollow standard methods, and assess impacts due to bycatch and discards

DATA ANALYSIS Analyze all collected data using appropriate statistical models

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MITIGATION AND MANAGEMENT

Recommend strategies for impact mitigation and management

REPORTINGPrepare and submit Progress Reports

Development of a Strategic Framework for Fisheries Management in Saudi Arabia

No well defined Framework for Fisheries regulations.

Conduct a comprehensive review and assessment of regulatory fisheries policy.

Assess the local fisheries status.

Perform a cost-benefit assessment.

Objectives:

Development of a Strategic Framework for Fisheries Management in Saudi Arabia

General Tasks:

MOBILIZATIONManpower, equipments, Permits and other infrastructures

ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT Recruitment, collaboration with international organisations

REVIEW OF LITERATURE AND HISTORICAL DATA

Compile and assess existing legislations, policies and other regulations

STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND RESEARCH INVOLVEMENT

Establish a participatory arrangement with key stakeholders

DATA ANALYSIS Devise a detailed data collection protocol

MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONSProvide recommendations for improving the fisheries management

REPORTINGPrepare and submit Progress Reports

Approaches