By Olivier Ballout
Kuwait, known for its scorching summer temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius, harbors an extraordinary thermotolerant fauna within its vast deserts. However, its eastern coastline, where land meets sea, features diverse ecosystems teeming with life. Exploring Kuwait’s coastal and marine environments reveals an array of phenomenal creatures thriving under extreme conditions.
Kuwait’s coastline, a key part of the Arabian Gulf, stretches 500 km, characterized by intense salinity (4.5 percent to 5.5 percent) and high temperatures (27°C compared to the global average of 21.1°C in 2023). These conditions create a nutrient-rich habitat attracting numerous endemic species. Conservationist Abdulaziz Al-Saleh highlighted Kuwait’s "unique marine biodiversity, enhanced by freshwater inflows from Iraq’s Tigris, Euphrates and Karun rivers, creating muddy shores favorable to species like the endangered mudskipper fish”. The coastline features rocky and sandy shores and coral reefs, bustling with marine life.
In fact, coral reefs, foundational to marine ecosystems, host a variety of species especially, small fish, anemones, sponges and nudibranchs, which are predators to zooxanthellae, a microalga contained inside these tree-like colonies of polyp. Kuwait boasts over 20 coral reef sites, notably around islands like Kubbar, Umm Al-Maradim and Qaruh, known for its underwater beauty, sheltering rare species such as rays, boxfish and wrasses. To preserve these reefs, ‘”The Scientific Center of Kuwait (TSCK) and volunteers actively plant new corals,” Saleh pointed out.
Mangroves play a crucial role in supporting coral reefs and maintaining ecological balance as they filter water and provide nutrients essential for zooxanthellae, enhancing the coloration of coral reefs. To preserve these shrubs, Kuwait’s Environment Public Authority (EPA) joined in 2023 the Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC), and actively collaborates with the UAE Embassy to plant mangrove seedlings along Jahra Reserve’s coast. Kuwait aims to plant 18,000 seedlings by 2035 to boost oxygen production and protect beaches from erosion.
However, mangroves are threatened by sea turtles as five species can be spotted in Kuwait, including hawksbill and green turtles, nesting on Qaruh and Umm Al-Maradim islands. These turtles face numerous predators, making their survival challenging, during the hatchling phase, while trying to gain the sea. "Kuwait aids green turtles by participating in the IOSEA agreement for marine wildlife, while volunteers and scuba divers raise public awareness and track turtles using devices monitored by TSCK,” Saleh told Kuwait Times. Sea turtles’ diet includes algae, crabs with some species, like sea walnuts or jellyfish, being invasive.
In Kuwait’s deeper waters, a variety of fish species thrive, from small dottybacks and butterflyfish to larger parrotfish and camouflaged flatfish and catfish, making the marine biodiversity is vast. Notable edible fish include pomfret, grouper, silver grunt and rabbitfish, locally known as zubaidi, hamour, nagroor and safi, respectively. Fisheries also target larger species like king mackerel, cobia and the great barracuda. Saleh emphasized the significant ‘’contribution of Kuwait’s fishing industry to the sustenance of locals and expatriates’’.
Sharks, as top predators, inhabit Kuwait’s waters, usually staying deeper to avoid human interaction. Species like sand tiger sharks, great hammerheads and whale sharks (harmless despite their size) are present, although some are nearing local extinction in the area. To help save these vulnerable species, the Scientific Center successfully bred tiger sharks in 2022, as these monsters of the sea play a vital role in controlling the population of more dangerous animals, such as venomous sea snakes.
Additionally, dolphins, porpoises, and whales thrive along Kuwait’s coastline: Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins and orca whales, though rare, can be spotted near islands like Miskan and Auhah, while Dugongs (sea cows), also inhabit these waters, with the Arabian Sea hosting the second-largest population globally. "Preserving natural areas and islands ensures a brighter future for these species,” stressed Saleh.
Seabirds, predominantly migratory, also populate Kuwait’s islands, seeking warm climates during winter. Warbah and Bubiyan islands are prime birdwatching destinations, attracting species like greater flamingoes, crab plovers, kestrels and terns. Moreover, Kuwait’s smallest island, Qaruh, offers abundant food sources for these birds, including crabs, shellfish, small fish, squid and krill, with the Socotra cormorant being the most endemic seabird in the Gulf.
Kuwait’s marine life is a treasure of impressive and little-known species. Protecting these species and their fragile environment from human activities and coastal development is crucial. Saleh warned of "the severe impact of sewage waste”, advocating for treating water before discharging into the sea. If climate change exacerbates salinity and temperature, it could devastate marine life, causing corals to perish, fish and sea turtles’ populations to dwindle and larger predators like sharks and whales to starve.
According to Saleh, serious efforts, including establishing marine reserves, sustainable fishing practices, pollution control and scientific research, are essential to maintain a healthy marine environment and safeguard Kuwait’s fishing industry for future generations. Kuwait’s sea has to remain full of life, and not become more deserted than the desert itself.