Coral reefs to go

CORAL reefs standing in the way of development work at the site of the $2.5 billion (BD945 million) Bahrain Bay will be removed, following a decision taken by the Manama Municipal Council.

The fasht, which is located between the King Faisal Corniche and the bay, is blocking work on water channels and developers sought permission for its removal.
The project is a joint venture between Arcapita Bank and a private Bahrain-based investment group.
The council’s technical committee studied the request and found its removal would ensure a better water flow in the area, already crowded by major development projects.
Committee chairman Abdulmajeed Al Sebea’a said the removal would not harm the marine environment and “on the contrary it would benefit from it.”
“We took the decision because it is blocking water flow,” he said.
“The council has been backing the bay project and other development schemes, and we don’t believe that removing the coral reefs will cause any harm to the environment.
“This is not one of the huge fashts like Fasht Al Adhm or Fasht Al Jarem, this is a small one, which is not that important and removing it would ensure better progress of work.”
Mr Al Sebea’a said the council took its decision after studying all aspects of the proposal.
The bay project will include commercial, residential and retail properties, set along the Manama waterfront, with the country’s first Four Seasons Hotel as the centrepiece.
It will feature outdoor cafes, shops, restaurants and residential properties from high-rise buildings, condominiums, villas and hotel-serviced apartments.
The finished project, developed in an area of around 2 million cubic square metres and is set for completion in 2011, will accommodate more than 25,000 people.
The development will also feature the new global headquarters for Arcapita, expected to be completed by next year.
However, environmentalists this week demanded the decision to remove the coral reef be scrapped.
They say that they were never consulted about the removal which they claim will result in decreasing fish stocks if breeding and feeding grounds are gone.
The fasht is being lost to dredging of construction, said Environment Friends Society member Adele O’Shea
“Bahraini fishermen who depend on the fish stock in these waters will lose a very vital area,” she said.
“Mountains of sand are being piled up at the site to prepare the land for the construction of the project.
“The removal of the coral reef will affect the fishing industry further and the more coral reefs are removed the more fish stock will be lost.”
Ms O’Shea said that the coral reef might be small in size, but was still a vital habitat to maintain fish stock.
“Fishermen depend on coral reefs, and once it is lost, where will they go?” she asked.
“Developers think that if the coral reef is small it won’t make a difference, but it does.”
“I am surprised that when the project was given the go-ahead, no environmental assessment was done.”
Ms O’Shea said that the society was never consulted about the removal of the coral reef.
“We are very disappointed because a natural habitat will be destroyed and fishermen will suffer,” she said.