Managing the growing impacts of development on fragile coastal and marine ecosystems

The physical characteristics and semi-enclosed nature of the Gulf provides ideal conditions for accumulation The loss of productive natural coastal habitat and of pollutants and may even create a ‘pollutant trap’. [...] Economic prosperity, rapid population growth, and Gulf countries rank lowest in the world in terms increased utilization of the Gulf are exacerbating a of the innovation and scientific research index, an pronounced lack of capacity to provide informed and unsurprising result given the minimal expenditure effective environmental management. [...] However, their effectiveness in that share this body of water need to develop a common building sustainable management is questionable understanding of anthropogenic threats and establish a and the implementation and enforcement of current shared vision of the strategic importance of the Gulf’s agreements requires strengthening. [...] The marine and coastal zones of the Gulf are an in- tegral part of the natural and cultural heritage of these eight countries. [...] In a region with some of among the richest countries in the world; and Bahrain the richest countries in the world, development has not not only has one of the world’s fastest growing econ- been limited by lack of finance.