Oman Deploys 100 Marine Structures to Support Coral Reef Development in Sohar

First Phase of Coral Reef Development Project Implemented in Sohar

Sohar:  The Environment Authority, represented by the Environment Department in North Al Batinah Governorate, has implemented the first phase of a coral reef development project in the Wilayat of Sohar by deploying 100 marine-friendly structures to create new habitats for marine organisms, enhance biodiversity and support the sustainability of marine ecosystems and fish stocks.

Engineer Nasser bin Hamoud Al Yaqoubi, Director of the Environment Department in North Al Batinah Governorate, said the structures were placed at depths of up to 9 metres below sea level across a marine area measuring approximately 20 metres by 15 metres.

He explained that the project is an environmental intervention aimed at creating suitable conditions for coral reef growth and supporting the settlement of marine organisms in the surrounding area.

The project is expected to enhance the marine environment and support coral growth, contributing to the development of fish stocks and providing shelter and protection for young marine organisms and larvae. This can improve their opportunities for reproduction and growth while supporting ecological balance in the area.

Al Yaqoubi noted that the site will undergo periodic monitoring to assess environmental changes, track the presence and adaptation of marine organisms around the structures and monitor coral reef growth.

He added that the monitoring programme will help assess the environmental impact and effectiveness of the project and provide data that can support subsequent phases.

The project comes amid growing global challenges facing coral reefs due to climate change, rising sea temperatures and other environmental pressures. A 2024 assessment by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) found that 44 percent of warm-water reef-building coral species are at risk of extinction.

The deployment of the structures was carried out in cooperation with the Sohar Diving Team and specialists from the Directorate General of Agricultural and Fisheries Wealth and Water Resources in North Al Batinah Governorate, with support from a number of private-sector institutions.

The project aims to restore and enhance marine habitats, establish suitable areas for marine organisms to settle and reproduce, and support environmental monitoring, surveys and scientific research, contributing to the conservation and sustainability of marine biodiversity.

Coral reefs play a vital role in marine ecosystems by providing shelter, feeding and breeding grounds for numerous marine species. They also contribute to supporting fish stocks, maintaining ecological balance and strengthening the resilience and sustainability of marine ecosystems.