ABU DHABI // The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment is collecting samples from the most recent algal bloom off Fujairah to better understand the risks it might pose to the marine environment.
Algal blooms, or red tides, are considered natural phenomena that occur when there is so much algae in the water that they appear on the surface.
The ministry said Noctiluca scintillans, a common algal species, is not harmful in small amounts but must be monitored as higher concentrations could pose environmental threats.
“Working with marine organisations and satellite image monitoring, we are able to give those involved early warnings,” said Dr Rashid Al Shihi, an oceanographer with the ministry.
“This algae has been in the region for five decades. It only becomes a problem when the number increases, which doesn’t seem to be the case this time.”
Algae contain chlorophyll, a colour pigment that allows them to gain nutrients through the sun’s light. When they appear on the surface, as in this incident, they block sunlight necessary for coral to survive.
Considered the foundational element to marine life, if coral dies it can completely wipe out marine ecosystems and their disappearance can cause more shoreline destruction from tropical storms.
Despite that, Dr Al Shihi said that at current concentrations the bloom in Fujairah was common and, as long as it did not last, it would not be a risk.
The bloom may have been triggered by a dust storm from northern Afghanistan, said Dr Maryam Al Shehhi, a research assistant at Masdar Institute of Science and Technology.
“Higher temperatures might have triggered the south-west monsoon in the Indian Ocean and that can cause welling,” said Dr Al Shehhi.
The algae is expected to disappear over summer, but if it gets out of hand there is not much that can be done to prevent a destructive bloom, such as one that wiped out entire species of coral and forced desalination plants to close along the east coast in 2009.
“Yes, aquaculture and toxins and pollution and climate change can contribute to the occurrence of an algal bloom, but what must be made clear is that this particular incident is coming not from the Gulf, but from the Indian Ocean,” said Dr Al Shihi.
“This is completely a natural phenomenon. We are monitoring it daily and currently the conditions of this algal bloom are not dangerous.”
A recent report published by the Emirates Wildlife Society in collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund said that climate change could be responsible for a higher occurrence of algal blooms.
“It has been suggested that climate pressures will influence marine planktonic systems globally, and it is conceivable that harmful algal blooms may increase in frequency and severity,” said the report last month.
The ministry will continue to monitor the algae and its findings will be published on the ministry website, along with the data from the last few years.
nalwasmi@thenational.ae
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Results
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,000mm, Winners: Mumayaza, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m, Winners: Sharkh, Pat Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi
6pm: The President’s Cup Prep - Conditions (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 2,200m, Winner: Somoud, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roualle
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh90,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: Harrab, Ryan Curatolo, Jean de Roualle
7pm: Abu Dhabi Equestrian Gold Cup - Prestige (PA) Dh125,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: Hameem, Adrie de Vries, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7.30pm: Al Ruwais – Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 (T) 1,200m, Winner: AF Alwajel, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
8pm: Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m, Winner: Nibras Passion, Bernardo Pinheiro, Ismail Mohammed
Company profile
Date started: January, 2014
Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe
Based: Dubai
Sector: Education technology
Size: Five employees
Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.
Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)
The drill
Recharge as needed, says Mat Dryden: “We try to make it a rule that every two to three months, even if it’s for four days, we get away, get some time together, recharge, refresh.” The couple take an hour a day to check into their businesses and that’s it.
Stick to the schedule, says Mike Addo: “We have an entire wall known as ‘The Lab,’ covered with colour-coded Post-it notes dedicated to our joint weekly planner, content board, marketing strategy, trends, ideas and upcoming meetings.”
Be a team, suggests Addo: “When training together, you have to trust in each other’s abilities. Otherwise working out together very quickly becomes one person training the other.”
Pull your weight, says Thuymi Do: “To do what we do, there definitely can be no lazy member of the team.”
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
HOW TO WATCH
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At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
more from Janine di Giovanni
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Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
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Political flags or banners
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The specs
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