Development of ambient marine standards using long-term data: An example from Abu Dhabi

Abstract

Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, has a coastline that occupies 76% of the country’s Arabian Gulf coastline. The pressures accompanying the economic development that the country is undergoing ultimately affected the marine ecosystem including water and sediment quality. In order to protect the marine ecosystem and public health, the Environment Agency- Abu Dhabi developed ambient marine water and sediment quality standards using the long-term data collected along the coast of Abu Dhabi. Along with the data collected on 39 marine water quality and sediment parameters (hydrography, nutrients, and heavy metals), a review of best practices from jurisdictions whose approach was scientifically based and whose physical conditions were as similar as possible to those found in Abu Dhabi were used for the establishment of marine water and sediment quality limits. These promulgated ambient limits were then used to develop the marine water and sediment regulation that establish two uses of marine waters (protected and general) and an anti-degradation policy. In addition, the ambient water and sediment limits provide a bench mark to both assess trends that may indicate stress to marine flora and fauna and support the work of environmental permitting and enforcement.