Red sea and Gulf of Aden

The Regional Organization for the Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (PERSGA)

A. Overview

RSGA Region is globally know for the uniqueness of its coastal and marine biodiversity, important for international maritime transport, and its special economic, historical and social values to the Region. The RSGA ecosystems supports a rich biological diversity with a distinct high proportion of endemic species. Several locations and species in the region have global conservation merit. For examples, Socotra Archipelago, Dungonab Bay and Senganeeb Atoll are considered UNESCO Natural Heritage Sites. Farsan and Dahlak Archipelagos in the southern Red Sea, and the flourishing coral reefs in the northern and central parts of the Red Sea are also distinctive features of the region.

The Red Sea supports high species endemism. According to PERSGA reports (RSGA- SOMER, 2006), about 14.7%  the Red Sea fishes are of endemic species, which ranks the Red Sea among the top areas of high fish endemism in the world. Furthermore, endemism is remarkably high among some fish families, e.g. around 90% of the Red Sea dottybacks (Pseudochromidae) and triple fins (Tripterygiidae), and 50% of the Red Sea butterfly-fishes (Chaetodontidae) are endemic species. Among invertebrate groups, about 6% of the Red Sea coral, 13% of polycheate, 33% of crinoid, 23% of holothuroid, and 13% of asteroid species are considered endemic.

The Red Sea is increasingly being identified as a potential climate refuge for coral reefs, because of the relatively higher resilience of its corals compared to other parts of the world. In addition to the all-encompassing coral reefs, the region also supports extensive seagrass beds and mangroves. The Gulf of Aden has levels of biological productivity that are amongst the highest in the world. The flow of nutrient rich water from the Gulf of Aden into the Red Sea (replacing loss through evaporation) is largely responsible for higher productivity in the southern part of the Red Sea as well. Marine fishery, as a traditional economic activity, remains a main source of food and income for coastal communities in the region. However, declining and fluctuating trends are reported for several fisheries in the region, which are mainly linked to degradation of their essential coastal habitats and overfishing Other significant issues to the long-term stability of the RSGA ecosystems stem from the increase in the human population in the coastal zone and the rapid economic growth resulting in considerable pressure on the coastal and marine environments. Major concerns include habitat destruction; overexploitation of marine resources; navigation risks and threats of hydrocarbon spills; pollution from urban /industrial/ tourism hotspots; illegal disposal of pollutants by transiting vessels; and the impacts of climate change.

B. Introduction

The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (RSGA) Region is well recognized for the variety and value of its coastal and marine environments, in addition to its strategic, economic, and social significance to the Region. Major threats to the long-term stability of the marine ecosystem stem from the increase in the human population in the coastal zone and the rapid rise in economic growth resulting in considerable pressure on the environment.

Threats such as marine pollution, depletion of marine resources, overfishing are of trans-boundary nature that necessitates regional cooperation to define their causes, effects and coordinated management actions. Hence, the "Programme for the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (PERSGA)" was initiated in 1974 in collaboration with the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) and the support of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as one of its Regional Seas Programmes. In 1982 the Programme was underpinned by signing the Jeddah Convention, formally titled "Regional Convention for the Conservation of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Environment". The Jeddah Convention expresses in clear terms the commitment and the political will of the governments of the region to tackle the marine and coastal environments of the Red Sea and Gulf Aden through joint and coordinated efforts. The provisions of the Jeddah Convention aim at protection of coastal and marine environment from pollution and the rational management of living marine resources. They came synchronized with the Articles of the United Nations Convention on the Law of Seas (1982), where Article (123) of this Convention called for cooperation among coastal countries of an enclosed or a semi-enclosed sea, and to coordinate their efforts regarding rights and duties concerning marine environment.

In accordance with Article III of the Jeddah Convention, The Regional Organization for the Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden - PERSGA was established in 1995.

C. Organizational structure

1. Contracting Parties - The following are the parties of the Jeddah Convention: Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
2. PERSGA Ministerial Council - PERSGA is an intergovernmental organization governed by a council of ministers responsible for environmental affairs in the seven PERSGA member states. The Ministerial Council meets every two years to approve technical and financial policies.
3. PERSGA National Focal Points – include undersecretaries of ministries in charge of environment in the member states
4. Secretariat – PERSGA programs, projects, activities and daily affairs are managed by a secretariat, which is run by a team of technical and administrative experts headed by the PERSGA Secretary General. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia hosts PERSGA Secretariat and headquarters in Jeddah.

D. The Jeddah Convention and its Related Legal Instruments

In addition to the Convention, the 1982 Conference produced and signed another important instrument, which is also legally binding: the "Action Plan for the Conservation of the Marine Environment and Coastal Areas in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden". As marine pollution by oil and other harmful substances is an urgent and important issue in the region, the "Protocol Concerning Regional Cooperation in Combating Pollution by Oil and Other Harmful Substances in Cases of Emergency" was signed along with Jeddah Convention in 1982. The Convention, the Action Plan and the Protocol entered into force in August 1985.

Later on, the Jeddah Convention was further consolidated by signing and ratifying two additional regional protocols, including the Protocol Concerning the Conservation of Biological Diversity and the Establishment of Network of Protected Areas in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (2005); the Protocol Concerning the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (2005). Furthermore, two other protocols, the Protocol Concerning Exchange of Experts, Equipment and Materials in Cases of Marine Emergency, and the Protocol Concerning Cooperation in Management of Fisheries and Mariculture in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden were finalized, and their signing and ratification currently in progress.

E. Areas of work

Protection of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden environments from pollution, and the rational management of their resources are the focal objectives of the PERSGA mission and work.  The design of PERSGA program components includes a set of specialized programs that are interconnected to and supported by a set of generic multipurpose programs.

PERSGA specialized regional programs include:

• Biodiversity and Network of Marine Protected Areas
• Living Marine Resources
• Pollution from Land based Activities (LBAs)
• Pollution from Sea-based Activities
• Climate Change Program

PERSGA generic regional programs include:

• Environmental Monitoring
• Environmental Education and Awareness
• Annual Training Program
• On-the-ground Activities Program
• Regional Information System and Library

PERSGA adopts a strategic approach that intervenes at both regional, and national levels in the member countries. Regional level activities by PERSGA involve coordination and capacity building that are planned and conducted through the above listed Regional Programs. At national levels in the member states, PERSGA provides technical assistance to help mainstreaming the regional and relevant international conventions in national policies, supporting training, assessments, interagency coordination, and implementing demo and micro-projects that are based on countries’ priorities and needs. This is usually arranged through the on-the-ground Activities Program.

F. Partnerships

PERSGA is a long-established organization that has well-established partnerships with international and regional organizations. Among international partners PERSGA has collaborations with UNEP, UNDP, WB, and UNIDO, IMO, IOC-UNESCO, FAO and IAEA. At the regional level, PERSGA works in close cooperation with regional development organizations, such as Islamic Development Bank, ISESCO, Arab League, CEDARE and ROPME. PERSGA has also established networking with many relevant national partners including government agencies, academic institutes, NGOs and grassroots organizations in the member states.

G. Ongoing projects

PERSGA has executed several GEF supported regional project in collaboration with GEF agencies, The main GEF projects executed by PERSGA include the Strategic Action Program (SAP) for RSGA project, conducted during 2000-2004 in collaboration with UNEP, UNDP and WB; Reduction of UP POPs Emissions in the RSGA, conducted during 2011-2013 in collaboration with UNIDO; and the Strategic Ecosystem Management Project (SEM), conducted during 2014-2018 in collaboration with the World Bank.

The recently implemented SEM project in collaboration with the World Bank has focused on selected MPA sites of the Regional Network to implement community-based interventions. These have supported alternative livelihood options, which significantly enhanced participation of MPA communities in marine conservation activities at local levels.

H. Key achievements

1. Implementation of the Strategic Action Program (SAP)
2.  Advancement in regional legislation by developing five regional protocols, of which three ratified (concerning Oil & HNS; Biodiversity-MPAs; Land-based Activities) and two in progress (concerning exchange of equipment & personnel during emergency; and management of fisheries & aquaculture).
3. Develop Regional Standard Survey Methods (SSMs) manual for monitoring key habitats and species in the RSGA region since 2007, and updating it in 2018
4. Development of many regional specific action plans and management guideline manuals e.g. RAPs for conservation of key habitats and species, guidelines for marine litter, sharks conservation, ornamental fish management, regional strategies for reduction of UP POPs emissions, ballast water management, etc.
5. Establishment of Regional Network of Marine Protected Areas in the RSGA region since 2005, and recent increase in MPAs coverage by 21.67%
6. Establishment of the Regional Center for Mutual Aids during Marine Pollution Emergencies (PERSGA-EMARSGA) in 2006 in Hurghadah, Egypt.
7. Production of technical guidelines, and outreach materials tailored for RSGA region
8. Established Regional SOMER process (SOMERSGA reports, including development of objective based regional indicators, and continuous updating to cope with the global process and objectives,
9. Expansion of the regional training activities and on-the-ground projects in the member states by about threefold in terms of both interventions and beneficiary numbers
10. Ratified MEAs by PERSGA member states has generally increased by 12%.
11. Implementation of the Strategic Ecosystem Management (SEM) Project.
12. Establish several regional initiatives, such as those addressing blue carbon, wastewater, marine litter, and EBM  in collaboration with UNEP

Contact Us

Secretary General:

Prof. Ziad H. Abu-Ghararah
Secretary General, PERSGA
P.O. Box 53662, Jeddah 21583
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Tel:    +966.12.4238855

Website: http://www.persga.org/