Muscat – In cooperation with the Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine Environment (ROPME), the Environment Authority opened a two-day regional workshop in Muscat on Wednesday focused on the risks posed by non-indigenous and invasive marine species in the ROPME Sea Area.
Titled ‘Risk Identification of Non-Indigenous, Harmful, Unknown-Origin and Newly Recorded Species in the ROPME Sea Area’, the workshop brings together experts and officials from eight member states – Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, besides Oman. The ROPME Sea Area includes the Arabian Gulf, the Sea of Oman and parts of the Arabian Sea.
The event aims to assess the environmental, social and economic impacts of invasive marine species and to enhance regional coordination on data collection, risk analysis and response measures.
Dr Abdullah bin Ali al Amri, Chairman of Environment Authority and patron of the workshop, said it reflects regional cooperation and provides a scientific platform to review the shared inventory of invasive marine species. He said a regional report has identified 21 priority species classified as posing very high risk, underscoring the need for detailed risk assessment, monitoring systems and coordinated management measures.
“The regional inventory and risk assessment, prepared with contributions from all member states using unified scientific methods, highlight the scale of the challenge facing marine and coastal ecosystems,” Amri said.
He noted that a significant number of assessed species fall within high and very high risk categories, pointing to the vulnerability of the region’s marine environment amid rising human activity. Invasive species, he said, threaten ecological balance by competing with native species for food and habitat, affecting biodiversity, fisheries and marine-based economic activities.
Amri warned that some invasive species could lead to the decline or loss of native species of ecological and economic importance, particularly in sensitive coastal zones.
The assessment identified ships’ ballast water and biofouling on vessel hulls as major reasons for the introduction and spread of invasive species. These risks are heightened by dense maritime traffic, expanding commercial ports, oil and energy facilities, and increased coastal development.
The workshop programme includes technical presentations, panel discussions and interactive sessions focused on developing regional action plans, alongside case studies from member states that have implemented control and monitoring measures.
The workshop is expected to conclude with recommendations to strengthen regional mechanisms to address invasive marine species. ROPME is also set to announce the launch of the second phase of a regional project aimed at mitigating the risks posed by invasive marine organisms.
