Al Yasat Marine

Al Yasat Marine Protected Area in western Abu Dhabi covers the islands of Upper Al Yasat, Lower Al Yasat, Esam and Karsha and the surrounding waters, and is managed by the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi^[1].

Upper Al Yasat has a breeding colony of Socotra cormorants, one of fewer than 15 such colonies worldwide, and desert hares live on the islands. The waters are foraging habitat for critically endangered hawksbill turtles and support endangered green turtles and dugongs^[1].

Coral reefs surround the islands, with good coral growth, high coral cover and about eight coral species; they shelter over-exploited fish such as hamour, sherri and farsh^[1]. Seagrass beds are also present in the surrounding waters.

The islands are low, sandy Gulf islands rising from shallow seabed, ringed by reefs.

The climate is hot and humid on the coast, with very hot summers, mild winters and little rain.

The islands were settled in the late pre-Islamic period (1st-6th century AD), and late Islamic shelters and shell middens show how residents used nearby marine resources; several sites are of national or regional importance^[1].

An Emiri decree issued by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan declared the islands a marine protected area, covering 482 km2 as a no-take zone^[1].

The area is notable for its reefs, the cormorant colony and the archaeological remains rather than any marked trail.

The islands are offshore in western Abu Dhabi, about 200 km from the capital, and are reached by boat.

Catching or removing organisms is prohibited, nesting areas of birds and turtles may not be damaged, and boats may not berth outside designated areas. The agency runs reef surveys, satellite-tracks turtles after nesting and keeps permanent stations monitoring coral regeneration^[1].