Description: Harmful algal blooms (HABs) occur when populations of phytoplankton species increase rapidly, with deleterious effects on other marine organisms or humans. Although HABs may be formed as a result of natural conditions, severe eutrophic conditions may also signal that conditions are favorable for the formation of HABs. Some HAB species also produce toxins that may be harmful to other marine organisms as well as humans. HABs can cause fish kills and shellfish poisoning and can disrupt the normal operation of desalination plants by clogging their seawater filtration systems. HABs are responsible for mass mortalities of fish worldwide, causing catastrophic impacts to aquaculture and local fish and shellfish economies. Some HABs are also toxic to humans and limit recreational use of waters. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has experienced severe and widespread HAB outbreaks in the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. These outbreaks have resulted in the loss of thousands of tons of fish and limited traditional fishery operations; damaged coral reefs; impacted coastal tourism; and forced the closure of desalination plants in the region (Richlen et al., 2010). Fish-kill incidents have been recorded in Mussafah Channel since 1998, and water quality analyses have routinely showed that the Mussafah South Channel is impacted by nutrient enrichment, low DO concentrations in bottom waters, and phytoplankton blooms throughout the year (EAD, 2008).These outbreaks have increased over the past decade2 and are likely associated in part with the eutrophic conditions caused by discharges into the marine environment; however, some of the increase shown over time may be the result of increased monitoring.
Copyright Text: Created by Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi as part of the Environmental Baseline Data for Abu Dhabi project.