Ecological status of the seagrass community in Sharm El-Moyia Bay (Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea)‎ : after oil pollution in 1999

Abstract EN

After four months of the oil pollution of Sharm El-Moyia Bay, the species composition, abundance, and distribution of seagrasses and associated macroinvertebrate fauna at oiled and non-oiled sites were investigated.

The most abundant Seagrass, Halophila stipulacea, grows to a depth of 3 m on soft bottom substrates with standing crop ranging from 25 to 280 gdwm2.

Leaf morphology and indicators of vegetative and sexual growth suggested that the meadow of this species at different sites of the bay is still healthy, despite being exposed to oil pollution.

Biometric analyses indicated that the seagrass Halophila stipulacea was experiencing a seasonal transition and initializing a normal growth pattern from low winter temperature to spring conditions.

Based on the field observations it is concluded that while oil pollution may lead to local destruction of macro-invertebrate fauna associated with the seagrass, it also did not cause any degradation to seagrass meadow.

There is no conclusive evidence supports that oil floating above the seagrasses may damage them.