Editorial

The Republic of Djibouti joins PERSGA 2


Dear Reader,
Marine Resources in Djibouti 3


We were hoping to have this issue of Al-Sambouk in its
Regional Training Workshops 4
new format with a coloured cover and glossy paper as

we promised earlier, however, there were some
The PERSGA Secretary General meets
technical constraints that we hope will be overcome by
GEF Representatives Concerning SAP 5
the next issue.

Recommendations from the Oil Pollution
During the past few months PERSGA has
Combating Workshop 6
accomplished several activities in the region: two

regional training workshops were held in Hodeidah

(December 1997) in the field of marine surveys and

monitoring and in Jeddah (February 1998) in the field

of combating oil pollution. Surveys of natural habitats
and development of plans for their protection were done
Development of an Oil Spill
in Sudan within the framework of a joint project
between ALECSO and PERSGA; the project will be
Contingency Plan for the Sudan
commenced in Djibouti in mid April this year.

Similarly, field visits to the Sudanese Red Sea Coast
At its Second Meeting in Jeddah (26 October 1996), the
were carried out for the development of an oil spill
Ministerial Council of PERSGA approved a number of
contingency plan within the framework of a joint
regional projects - which are complementary to the
project between PERSGA, UNEP, and ALECSO.
Strategic Action Plan ­ to be implemented by PERSGA
Some particularly good news for future activities within
during l997/98. One of these projects was the
the PERSGA region is the approval of the Strategic
development of a National Oil Spill Contingency Plan
Action Programme (SAP) for the Red Sea and Gulf of
(NOSCP) for the Sudan.
Aden by the Council of the Global Environment
Accordingly an international expert in environmental
Facility (GEF), and its support with 19 million dollars.
marine affairs, including oil spill contingency planning,
The reader will find a summary of the discussions that
visited the Sudan for a fact-finding mission from 7 - 22
took place between the PERSGA Secretary General and
February 1998. Mr. Peter Hayward (who is also
the GEF representatives concerning the necessary
currently advising the Egyptian Environmental Affairs
arrangements for the implementation of the SAP.
Agency on similar issues) was assisted in the mission
We appreciate the contributions of those who provided
by Capt. Omer Salih Satty, Head of the Maritime
articles for Al-Sambouk and hope to receive more from
Administration Department of the Sea Ports
others in the future.
Corporation.
Dr. Dirar Nasr
At present the Sudan is an oil importing country,

importing approximately 700,000 tonnes of crude oil

per annum and a similar quantity of refined petroleum
products. All these products are imported at Port
In This Issue of Al Sambouk:
Sudan. However, the picture is likely to change in the

next 3 - 5 years with the construction of a new terminal,
Editorial 1
about 24 km to the south of Port Sudan, to export crude

oil and refined products derived from Sudan's newly
Development of an Oil Contingency Plan
exploited oilfields at Heglig and Adariel.
For the Sudan 1
In addition to the 100 or so tankers which call at Port

Sudan each year, the port receives a further 900 ship-
Saudi Arabia and Jordan Contribute
calls, most of it local Red Sea traffic. Also, the ancient
to PERSGA 2
port of Suakin receives about 250 ship-calls each year,

Al Sambouk, No.7, March 1998, page 1

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all of them ro-ro passenger ferries mainly plying the
budget of 1997. Such contributions enable PERSGA to
route between Suakin and Jeddah.
implement the projects approved by the PERSGA
Council and recommended by the SAP Consultative
The pollution "hot spots" are therefore the oil handling
Meeting as complementary to the latter. Surveys of
activities within the ports (and future terminal), but the
Natural Habitats and Development of Plans for their
coastline is also at risk from the possibility of ship
Protection, for instance, is a joint project between
collisions in the anchorage areas or grounding on the
PERSGA and ALECSO that has been implemented in
fringing coral reefs which border much of the Sudan. It
Sudan and will be implemented in Djibouti next April.
should not be overlooked that about 1.5 million barrels
The development of a national contingency plan for
of oil per day passes through the Gulf of Aden, and is
Sudan is another joint project that has been
joined by a further 1.35 million barrels of oil per day
implemented in Sudan in accordance with the
from Yanbu (Saudi Arabia). Together this trade
recommendations of the SAP Consultative Meeting.
constitutes about 11% of the global seaborne transport
The financial contributions also enabled PERSGA to
of oil. Whilst there are no particular navigational
hold the Regional Training Workshop on Oil Spill
hazards in the Red Sea proper, and the region has been
Combating in Jeddah.
remarkably free from major tanker spills, the potential

risk posed by this traffic (including the possibility of
operational discharges from ships using the Suez Canal
The Republic of Djibouti joins
route), and the possible impact on Sudan's coastline,
cannot be ignored.
PERSGA
The recently established Ministry of Environment and

Tourism (1995) is ultimately responsible for all
PERSGA Secretariat officially received from the
national environmental affairs. However it seems clear
Government of the Republic of Djibouti the documents
that responsibility for the Sudan's NOSCP should rest
concerning its joining to PERSGA. Mr. Mohammed Ali
with the Sea Ports Corporation (SPC), a part of the
Mumen, Director of the Environmental Directorate
Ministry of Transport, since the SPC is responsible for
(Ministry of Environment and Tourism) informed
the management of the ports and anchorage areas.
PERSGA that the Djibouti Council of Ministers and the
Furthermore, the SPC is the only agency with the
Legal Council expressed their concern regarding
potential to develop an operational sea-going capacity
PERSGA activities in the region especially its co-
to combat oil pollution through the use of its tugs and
ordinating role and its support to national capacity
other port vessels.
building in the field of conservation of the marine
The fact-finding mission held discussions with many
environment.
government and private bodies in the Sudan, all of
PERSGA Secretariat will take the necessary measures
whom will have a role to play in the national
to inform the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Foreign
contingency plan and all of whom expressed their
Affairs regarding this matter.
willingness to co-operate in this activity. The next step

will be a one-day Seminar in April or May l998 to
which all the parties will be invited. This seminar will
Marine Resources in Djibouti
consider the draft contingency plan prepared by the
consultants and will determine the best way forward to

establish realistic operational responsibilities for an oil
1- Location
spill response within the Sudan.
Djibouti, which lies, at the junction of the Red Sea and
Saudi Arabia and Jordan
the Gulf of Aden, has an area of 23,000 km2 and a
coastline of about 370 km in length. The northern coast
Contribute to PERSGA
between the Eritrean border and Ras- Bir faces the
narrow Strait of Bab al Mandab.

Most of the coastline of Djibouti lies along the narrow
PERSGA has received the contributions of the
Gulf of Tadjourah, an east-west oriented trench with a
Jordanian and Saudi Arabian Governments to the
maximum depth of 883 m. A shallow, but narrow


Al Sambouk, No. 7, March 1998, page 2

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opening separates it from the semi-enclosed basin of the
Maskali Sud. Both are marine protected, areas. Other
Goubet al-Kharab, which has increased salinity and
sites for which text proposing protected status has been
coral reefs of low species diversity. For most of the
drafted include marine areas in Tadjourah, Obock, and
year, surface salinity is about 36.5 ppt.
Arta regions.
The relatively high turbidity generally limits coral
3- Management of coral reefs
growth to the upper 15 to 25 m, although corals have
Djibouti is endowed with very impressive landscapes
been reported from depths below 35 m.
and exceptional marine reef formations which could
At the entrance to the Gulf of Tadjourah, north of the
provide a major source of income for the country
town of Djibouti, a large reef plateau forms the base of
through tourism. Despite this potential, very little is
the islands of Musha and Maskali, which are
being done to conserve the country's biological
surrounded by extensive coral reefs.
resources. Information about marine resources is poorly
addressed. There are inventories of species which
The south-eastern coast between the capital and Loyada
present economic interests, plenty of lists of coral fishes
at the Somali border is rather shallow and sandy with
and some punctual investigations on coral reefs.
several estuaries. This area lies in a zone of upwelling
nutrient-rich water where coral reefs are poorly
The agency responsible for the protected areas of
developed.
Musha and Maskali are:
The coral reefs are mostly fringing. The reef edge
1. The High Institute of Scientific and Technical
presents variable width. Morphologically, around
Studies and Researches,
Musha and Maskali, the actual coral formations are
2. The National Office of Commerce and Tourism.
ended by an active cliff, completely alive, reaching
15 m. Beyond this formation, the reef slope is covered
In 1991, The National Committee for the environment
by sand and mud.
was created to develop a national environment policy;
2- Marine resources and economics aspects
this committee wrote the first document on the State of
the Environment in Djibouti.
The major economic sectors in the coastal zone revolve
around maritime transport and port-related activities.
4- Constraints and recommendations
At present, fisheries and tourism play only a limited
Many constraints exist in Djibouti, and as a result a
role, although subsistence fisheries are locally
number of areas of information are rather poorly
important. Both tourism and fisheries have a significant
addressed. Of particular concern is the inadequate
growth potential.
number and level of local staff in all marine fields. As
In the past a certain number of European tourists
there is no university, opportunities to receive high-level
(particularly French) used to visit Djibouti, mainly to
scientific training are limited. Likewise, linguistic
dive at the Sawabi islands. However, marine tourism is
differences make training in neighbouring countries
not well developed and its contribution to the national
very difficult. Therefore, education and training should
economy is insignificant. The National Tourism Office
be a priority for Djibouti.
offers some 60 huts for rent. The private sector
Another impediment to effective marine research is the
provides transport for tourists. Reefs near the capital
lack of co-ordination and collaboration among national
area are frequently visited by local tourists, above all
institutions. This further reduces the efficiency of the
members of the expatriate community. There is no
limited staff, and hampers the accessibility of the
monitoring of their activities and pressure on these reef
information.
resources is high.
Djibouti has no a centralized library or documentation
Marine protected areas are presently restricted to two
centre. Each institution stores its own information, and
Islands: Mush and Maskali. Theses two protected
often restricts access. A Central Library should be the
islands are considered as nature reserves but are not
priority for Djibouti, and preferably this centre should
under control.
have relevant bibliographic references, and a database
There are two protected areas in Djibouti: The Parc
of past and present projects.
Territorial de Musha and the reserve lntegrale de


Al Sambouk, No. 7, March 1998, page 3

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Finally, Djibouti suffers from isolation from the others
Meteorology and Environmental Protection
countries in the region. This is primarily due to the
Administration (MEPA) and Saudi ARAMCO.
linguistic factor, but also due to a lack of information
Twenty-two specialists participated in this workshop
about other countries and the institutions that might
representing Djibouti (2), Egypt (2), Jordan (2), Saudi
have data pertinent to Djibouti's need.
Arabia (9), Sudan (3) and Yemen (2) in addition to
ALECSO and PERSGA Secretariat representatives.
As specific recommendations Djibouti has to:
The lectures were presented by ten experts from Egypt,
3. Improve education and training in all marine fields,
Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Australia, and the United States
4. Carry out efforts to co-ordinate marine activities in
of America.
the country so that duplication of efforts and work
The Workshop was addressed by the PERSGA
is avoided,
Secretary General, Dr. Nizar Tawfiq, and an ALECSO
5. Encourage collaboration between Djiboutian
representative Dr. Al-Bahlool Al- Yaqubi. The
institutions involved in marine resources activities,
PERSGA Assistant Coordinator, Dr. Dirar Nasr
presented a summary of PERSGA activities during the
6. Establish a centralised library or documentation
recent past.
centre,
Field visits were confined to the Saudi ARAMCO
7. Increase involvement of local people in projects
Headquarters in Jeddah where practical use of oil spill
related to Marine Resources,
combating equipment was displayed. The lectures
8. Encourage collaboration and exchange information
presented were on: response strategies, the use of
with institutions located in the region.
dispersants, debris transportation and disposal,
shoreline clean-up, navigation risk assessment in the
Dr. Nabil Mohamed, Mohammed H. Warsama
Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, international co-operation
Life Sciences Department, ISERST ­ Djibouti.
for oil spill response in a regional context,

compensation for pollution damage and preparation of
Regional Training Workshops
claims, Regional and International Agreements
concerning Oil Pollution. The workshop was very

successful from the point of view of its organization,
During the past few months the PERSGA Secretariat
the lectures presented and the field visits.
has held two regional training workshops. The first one
At present the PERSGA Secretariat is planning to
was in Hodeidah (6-11 December 1997) on Marine
organise a regional training workshop on Integrated
Surveys and Monitoring, in coordination and
Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) to be held in Port
cooperation with the GEF/Yemen Project, the
Sudan during the period 29 June - 2 July 1998.
Environmental Protection Council and the UNDP
Regional Office both in Sana'a. The Workshop was
The PERSGA Secretary General
held in the building of the GEF/Yemen Project in
Hodeidah where 21 specialists participated representing
meets GEF Representatives
Djibouti (1), Egypt (2), Jordan (2), Saudi Arabia (2),
Sudan (1), and Yemen (13). Specialized lectures were
Concerning the SAP
presented by 12 experts (from Egypt, Saudi Arabia,
Australia, and Yemen) on: `surveys of coral reefs,

physical parameters, living marine resources and their
Following a request from the PERSGA Secretary
users, oil pollution and the role of databases in surveys
General, a meeting was held in Cairo on 23 January
and monitoring'.
1998 between Ms. Inger Anderson (UNDP), Dr. Steven
Lintner (World Bank), Dr. Friedhelm Krupp (UNDP
The Workshop included field visits to the mangrove
Consultant) and Dr. Nizar Tawfiq (PERSGA Secretary
areas. It was, in general, quite successful as indicated
General) to discuss the necessary arrangements for the
by the course evaluation given by the participants.
implementation of the Strategic Action Programme for
The second workshop was held in Jeddah (21-25
the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The following is a
February 1998) on Oil Pollution Combating, in
summary of the result of the discussion:
cooperation and coordination with ALECSO, the


Al Sambouk, No. 7, March 1998, page 4

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1. Management of the Red Sea SAP:
5. Schedule of Formulation Process:
PERSGA will be the overall manager of the Red Sea
Both UNDP and the World Bank are now in the
SAP project under the under the leadership of its
process of drafting the internal project documents. This
Secretary General. Under the project, PERSGA will be
task should be completed by the end of March 1998
strengthened with the appointment of a Chief Technical
followed by the beginning of the process of drafting the
Advisor (CTA).
more important joint annexes. It is assumed that
missions will be required to some of the Red Sea
Financially the project will be split into three sections
countries and these will be carried out during May and
(UNDP, UNEP, and World Bank). However, PERSGA
June.
and the recipient countries do not have to deal with
three separate types of projects and three separate
It is expected that by July 1998 draft documents will be
management systems. Hence it was proposed that the
available for circulation and comments in all the Red
management of the project should be unified.
Sea countries. By August/September these documents
will be mailed back to the GEF Secretariat and the GEF
2. PERSGA SAP Task Force:
Council members for their final endorsement.
The PERSGA SAP Task Force will continue to operate
It is hoped that the final endorsement will be ready in
under the chairmanship of the Secretary General. The
time for the third meeting of the PERSGA Council of
three GEF agencies and the Islamic Development Bank
Ministers, which is planned to take place in the first
will continue to participate in the Task Force meetings.
week of November 1998. The PERSGA Secretary
Other donors, such as the European Commission, will
General and senior officials from UNDP, UNEP, and
also be invited to the Task Force meetings if they join
the World Bank would then sign the project document.
the Red Sea SAP.
At the occasion, the PERSGA Council members would
3. SAP Programme Documentation:
also sign a declaration or a Memorandum of
In order to make this project operational, the internal
Understanding in support of the Red SAP.
requirements of each of the three GEF agencies demand
Good press coverage would need to be arranged for this
that agency-specific project documents are prepared
event, in coordination between PERSGA and the three
before release of funds. Another meeting will follow to
GEF agencies. Full project start-up would then begin
draw up common annexes to each of the three agency-
by November 1998.
specific documents. These annexes will outline:
1. Programme Implementation Plan
Recommendations of the Oil
2. Regional elements
Pollution Combating Workshop
3. Country Programmes for Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan,
and Yemen (Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia will
The Participants at the Oil Pollution Combating
participate at the regional level)
Regional Training Workshop, held in Jeddah from
4. Regional Components which address navigation
21-25 February 1998, would like to express their
issues (World Bank)
thanks to PERSGA and ALECSO for the organization
of the Workshop.
5. Integrated Component which addresses Monitoring
and Evaluation (UNDP)
In order to improve the arrangements for the prevention
of marine pollution in the Red Sea Region and enhance
6. Integrated Component which addresses Institutional
the capabilities for effective response to pollution
Strengthening (UNEP)
incidents, the Workshop Participants wish to bring the
7. Budget and Schedule
following recommendations to the attention of the
Secretary General of PERSGA:
4. Financial Management:
1. PERSGA should actively develop the proposals for
The financial management followed in UNDP may be
a Memorandum of Understanding on Port State
taken as an example with emphasis on the fact that
Control in the Red Sea in order to secure better
annual audits of accounts should be done on an annual
enforcement of the relevant IMO conditions,
basis by an internationally recognised audit company.


Al Sambouk, No. 7, March 1998, page 5

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especially MARPOL 73/78. To that end, it is
Graphics by Dr. David Olsen (MEPA).
proposed that, in the first instance, PERSGA

should convene a meeting of port and maritime
authorities in the region to consider the implications
Additional copies can be obtained from
and prepare an action plan.
PERSGA,
2. The implementation of the Protocol Concerning
PO Box 53662
Regional Cooperation in Combating Pollution by
Jeddah 21583,
Oil and Other Harmful Substances in cases of
Saudi Arabia.
Emergency and, accordingly, the establishment of

the Marine Emergency Mutual Aid Centre
(MEMAC) at a suitable location.
3. PERSGA should use its best endeavours to adopt
the Sub-regional Oil Pollution Combating Centre in
Djibouti, under the umbrella of PERSGA, and
adopt a mechanism for contributing to the
maintenance costs of the equipment stockpile in
Djibouti on an annual basis.
4. PERSGA should help those states in the Red Sea
region that need technical assistance, to prepare or
update their national contingency plans for oil spills
and spills of other hazardous substances. A legal
framework for enhancing co-operation in the region
and a practical contingency plan, which will
address both the regional and sub-regional
situation, should be the objective.
5. PERSGA and ALECSO should continue their co-
operation especially in the field of organising and
financing regional training programmes in the field
of oil pollution combating. Training (aimed at
different technical levels) could be held at a suitable
training institution, such as the Arab Academy for
Science, Technology and Maritime Transport at
Alexandria.
6. PERSGA should work towards evolving guidelines
that could be applied throughout the region, for a
uniform method for assessing environmental
damage following spills of oil or other harmful
substances.

Al Sambouk is produced at the PERSGA
office by Dr. Dirar Nasr (Editor).

Translation by Dr. Dirar Nasr and
Mr. Yassin H. Yassin.



Al Sambouk, No. 7, March 1998, page 6

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