| Overview : The Gulf of Aqaba is the only maritime area in Jordan, with a limited shoreline that extends for almost 27 Km. and provides access to the sea for activities such as ship transport, fishing, and industrial development that requires large amounts of cooling water. The coral reef ecosystems of the Gulf of Aqaba are the most significant feature of the marine environment in Jordan. These coral reefs are unique in that they are the northern-most tropical reef systems worldwide, have a high diversity of marine taxa, and provide habitat for endemic and rare marine species. On June 3rd, 2020, His Majesty King Abdulla II gave his directive to declare the first Marine Reserve in Jordan to contribute to achieve the sustainable conservation of globally and nationally significant marine and coastal habitats and species. Based on that, an official decision was made by the Board of Commissioners of the Aqaba Special Economic Authority (ASEZA) to declare the reserve. This was followed by the inclusion of the AMP within the Jordan National Protected Areas Network, and the site was declared by the cabinet of Jordan as the first Marine reserve in Jordan in December 2020 after submitting the nomination file in accordance to the national regulations and global practices. This has given a further momentum to the different efforts aiming at conserving and sustaining the marine and coastal resources of Aqaba. |
