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The
ROPME Sea Area is endowed with valuable natural resources and
a great biodiversity of plant and animal species.
The wetlands, waterfowl, mangroves, fish, marine mammals, turtles, corals and
other forms of life are treasures of the region. Its dugong population is second
in global importance only to Australia's.
There are some twenty species of dolphin and whale, all the five subtropical
species of turtles, and more than a thousand species of fish, most of which,
are endemic and have a high commercial value. The impacts of land-based activities
on the coastal waters are significant.
The municipal sewage and industrial effluents from such industries as petroleum
refineries, power, desalination and petrochemical plants are major contributors
to pollution loads.
Dredging and reclamation activities are also a permanent feature
in many coastal areas with tremendous damaging effects on the marine environment.
Operational and accidental oil pollution is another major challenge in the region.
The impacts on the marine environment by offshore oil installations, particularly
water, are enormous.
The operational pollution from ships and dumping of ballast water
are also among the main causes of chronic oil pollution in the region.
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