Fujairah Environment Authority launches new book on Whales and Dolphins
Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, the Fujairah Environment Authority has launched a new book titled “Whales and Dolphins of Fujairah and the Arabian Region.” This publication aims to merge global research insights with the unique characteristics of marine mammals found in Fujairah, offering a comprehensive understanding of whales and dolphins in the region.
The book goes beyond the natural history of these marine mammals, exploring their interaction with human activities, including fishing, shipping, and tourism in one of the world’s most rapidly developing areas. It is the third installment in a series on Fujairah’s Natural History, following nearly five years of scientific research conducted under the Fujairah Whale and Dolphin Research Project. Authored by Robert Baldwin, CEO of 5 Oceans, and wildlife consultant Balazs Buzas, the book is richly illustrated with photographs, drawings by Uko Gorter and Samuel Baldwin, and distribution maps by Edith Shum. It highlights the surprising diversity of whales and dolphins primarily inhabiting the offshore waters of this underexplored corner of the Arabian region. The publication also marks a significant achievement in environmental research and marine conservation efforts led by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi as part of the Emirate’s ambitious environmental vision.
Baldwin and Buzas shared that the idea for a detailed study of Fujairah’s cetaceans was inspired by a sperm whale stranding in 2012, one of several incidents noted during the first IUCN Red List assessment for marine mammals in the UAE in 2016. This event underscored Fujairah’s rich marine biodiversity, attributed to the variety of continental slope and open ocean habitats that distinguish it from other Emirates.
Despite initial assumptions that Fujairah’s waters, bustling with vessel traffic, might lack marine wildlife, recent research has revealed a different story. The emirate is home to a diverse array of marine species, including dolphins, sea turtles, sea snakes, seabirds, and various fish species, with large whales occasionally passing through its waters.
Aseela Abdullah Al Mualla, Acting Director of the Fujairah Environment Authority, emphasized the importance of marine life to Fujairah’s natural environment. She highlighted that dolphins, in particular, are indicators of a healthy marine ecosystem and contribute to marine ecotourism, offering economic benefits to the emirate. Al Mualla also stressed the book’s role in promoting awareness and understanding of marine conservation.
Dr. Fouad Lamghari, Director of the Fujairah Research Centre, noted that the book exemplifies the collaborative efforts necessary for sustainable marine biodiversity conservation. By combining expertise and resources, the partners have gained a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing cetaceans in the region, enhancing the emirate’s conservation capabilities.
The book consists of eight chapters, beginning with an introduction to Fujairah’s oceanography, biogeography, and cetacean habitats. Subsequent chapters explore the diversity of cetaceans, the role of taxonomy in understanding their relationships, and the significance of the Arabian Sea in cetacean evolution. The book also documents 22 species of whales and dolphins recorded in the Arabian region, with a special focus on the 12 species known from Fujairah. Further chapters delve into cetacean anatomy, behavior, research efforts in Fujairah, and the broader conservation challenges these marine mammals face.
Baldwin and Buzas highlighted that their research included deep offshore waters, previously unexplored in the Arabian region. The study revealed 12 different species of whales and dolphins, accounting for nearly 15 percent of global cetacean species and over half of those known in the Arabian region. This is a remarkable finding for an emirate with a relatively short coastline and is significant for marine mammal conservation.
Baldwin, a member of several international cetacean conservation groups, including the IUCN Cetacean Specialist Group and the IWC Scientific Committee, explained that the Fujairah Whale and Dolphin Research Project, launched in February 2017 under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, was central to this initiative. The project included extensive vessel and aerial surveys, systematic distance surveys, photo-identification studies, acoustic research, and genetic analyses. Following the research period, the Fujairah Research Centre (FRC), supported by the Environment Authority, was established to continue this important work.
The Fujairah Whale and Dolphin Research Project was a collaborative effort involving the Fujairah Research Centre, 5 Oceans, the Port of Fujairah, and Aero Gulf Services, along with other networks and organizations dedicated to the study and conservation of whales and dolphins, such as the Arabian Sea Whale Network (ASWN) and the UAE Dolphin Project Initiative.
