Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi to Host 16th Seagrass Biology Workshop in 2026

Photo : Abu Dhabi Media Office

The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) has announced that Abu Dhabi will host the 16th International Seagrass Biology Workshop (ISBW) in 2026. This is the first time the Middle East will hold the event. The news was shared on August 1, 2024, by the World Seagrass Association (WSA) and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature – Seagrass Specialist Group (IUCN – SSG).

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The ISBW started in 1993 in Japan. The event brings together scientists, experts, and governments to talk about seagrasses and how to protect them. The goal is to learn more about seagrass, share knowledge, and work together to save seagrass from harm. The workshop also helps keep track of seagrass research and supports efforts to protect these important plants.

Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, the Secretary General of EAD, said this event shows how Abu Dhabi is leading in protecting the environment. She added that this event is part of the UAE’s Seagrass Breakthrough 2030 plan, which aims to protect and restore seagrasses in the region.

Dr. Al Dhaheri explained that seagrasses are protected by law in the UAE. They are very important for the environment and help reduce climate change by storing carbon. EAD is also working on new studies to see how seagrasses can handle climate change. They are also creating ways to restore and protect local seagrass species.

Ahmed Al Hashmi, Executive Director of the Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity Sector at EAD, said it is an honor for Abu Dhabi to host the ISBW. He shared that EAD has been studying seagrasses for many years. They have mapped over 3,000 square kilometers of seagrass in Abu Dhabi. This is more than 98% of the seagrass in the UAE. Most of the seagrass is found in two protected areas: the Marawah Marine Biosphere Reserve and the Al Yasat Marine Protected Area.

In Abu Dhabi, there are three main types of seagrass. They grow in different types of soil and in waters of different depths. Some areas have only one kind of seagrass, while others have a mix. EAD is also testing new technologies, like sonar, cameras, and sensors, to help monitor and protect seagrasses.

Seagrasses in Abu Dhabi are very important for marine life. They provide homes for over 3,000 dugongs, which is the second-largest population in the world. They also help over 4,000 green turtles. Seagrasses act as nurseries for many fish, shrimp, and pearl oysters. These animals use seagrass to find food and grow. Seagrasses are very strong and can survive in waters that have big changes in temperature.

Seagrasses are found in shallow waters in 159 countries around the world. They grow in both warm and cooler waters. Even though seagrasses cover only 0.1% of the ocean floor, they store up to 18% of the ocean’s blue carbon. This makes them one of the best ways to store carbon and help fight climate change.