The Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) is organizing a Regional Symposium on the Biology, Assessment & Management of Groupers, from 25th - 27th November 2008 at the Beach Rotana Hotel and Towers - Abu Dhabi.

Thabit Al Abdessalaam, Director of Biodiversity Sector- Marine Environment said that in a comprehensive global assessment conducted in 2007, the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) Grouper and Wrasses Species Specialist group concluded that twenty species of grouper are currently threatened with extinction.

“The status of groupers within the region is also alarming” Thabit noted. “Abundance indices suggest that stock sizes in 2002 in the southern Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman had declined to 10.9% and 4.4% respectively of levels present in 1978” he added.

Furthermore, it is anticipated that the rapid population growth of littoral states and expansion of tourism will increase demand and exacerbate the existing situation.

Mr. Thabit noted that EAD is hosting this symposium to provide a synthesis of the state of knowledge and recent advancements in grouper research and management in the region.

“It will also help to raise awareness on grouper conservation and management issues, develop a network of scientists, managers, fishers and conservations organizations and stimulate collaboration within the region and produce a declaration of intent which provides a synthesis of the critical issues and proposes a way forward for the region” he said.

Among the keynote speakers at the symposium will be Prof. Yvonne Sadovy, Division of Ecology & Biodiversity, School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Prof. Howard Choat, Department of Marine Biology, James Cook University, Queensland, Australia and Dr. Melita Samoilys, Coral Reef Degradation in the Indian Ocean program (CORDIO), Nairobi, Kenya.

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