Forming technical team work
A technical team work to track this phenomenon was formed by Ministry of Environment and Water in addition to representatives of Federal Environmental Agency - Abu Dhabi, UAEU, East coast municipalities, East coast fishermen associations, Umm Al Quwain Fishermen's Association as well as Umm Al Quwain, RAK and Dubai municipalities. This team has exerted intensive efforts to continuously track and study this phenomenon; team members supervised sample collection and analysis, coordinated efforts of relevant authorities and traced the works of experts who were recruited to provide technical consultations.
Recruiting experts
The Ministry recruited number of experts specialized in all fields relevant to this phenomenon from the following countries and authorities:
- Kuwait
- Republic of Malaysia
- Republic of France
- United States of America (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)
- Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine Environment
- UAEU
- United Nations University (UAE – Dubai)
Those experts have performed field visits to the location in order to:
- Collect samples from the sea on different depths to categorize the causes of this phenomenon.
- Analyze the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water.
- Determine the toxicity of phytoplankton causing this phenomenon.
The Ministry had an intensive contact with Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine Environment so as to coordinate the efforts of the member states of the Organization through the continuous observation, monitoring and sharing expertise and information.
Laboratory Tests
Chemical, physical and biological laboratory tests have been performed upon sea water samples that were collected from red tide sites in:
- Central laboratories of Ministry of Environment and Water
- UAEU
- Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi
- Environment Public Authority, Kuwait
- Airofence French Laboratories
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution lab, USA
Physical Analysis Results
Physical analysis results proved that:
- Temperature degree was convenient for the growth and reproduction of phytoplankton causing red tide phenomenon until ranging between 29° to 31°.
- The increase of oxygen depletion in shallow water of red tide sites as a result of the increasing growth of phytoplankton.
- The decrease of oxygen depletion in deep water as a result of decomposition of perished phytoplankton using the dissolved oxygen.
Chemical Analysis Results
Physical analysis results showed:
An increase in concentrations of (PO4) and (NO3) which are considered among the important nutrients promoting the growth of phytoplankton causing this phenomenon.