Where tweets convey gloom

The birds, perched on the mangroves go on chirping, but their tweets have a melancholic tone, for probably, they areworried about the sorry state of the Tubli Bay.

The inshore coastal area, situated in Sanad in the north-eastern part of Bahrain is home to lush-green mangroves as well as seagrass, and it has the distinction of being the only place in the Kingdom where there is an ecological interaction between mangroves, seagrass and corals. In 1997, the bay has been added to the list of RamsarWetlands of International Importance. 

But, for decades the bay has been facing threat owing to unscientific human activities, resulting in environmental pollution. TubliBay that measured 23.5 square kilometre in 1956 has been reduced considerably to 16.1sqkm in 1996.

Now, it has turned into a dumping yard with cardboards, carcassesand waste materials lying all around the place, badly affecting the mangroves that are now present only in patches.

When Wahid Murad says the natural freshness of the air has been subdued by the foul smell in the area, it sounds little bit exaggerated, but the Pakistani national who works in a nearby farmhouse asserts, it isreally thesituation there.

“This place is very beautiful, but is neglected. I’ve been staying here since three years. People consider theareaas a dumping yard, and they throw everything from plastics to carcass here,” Mr. Murad said, adding if the authorities concerned clean the place it would become a paradise.

Natural Reserve by Law

Meanwhile, for the protection of Tubli Bay His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, had issued Law No. 53 for the year 2006, declaringthe bay as a ‘Natural Reserve area of the second category’. Article 2 of the law stipulates stopping all types of dredging and filling in the bay.

Speaking to DT News, Vice Chairman of the Capital Secretariat Mazen Al Umransaid, the law also authorised governmental authorities to take all necessary measures to maintain the quality of the environment and the development of the wildlife.

He pointed out, under the Economic and Strategic Vision 2030, a pilot projectwas already under consideration, and it aimed at the development of marine coasts.

“Currently, theservices committeealong with competent authorities and the ministry is studyingthe project. We’ll discuss thedetails of the projectafter shifting the administration of the place fromthe CentralGovernorateto the CapitalGovernorate,” he said.

However, YousefHussain Ahmed Hassan, a fisherman by profession, and a frequent visitor to the bay for long said, now the place had become so dirty that it turned into a breeding area for pests.

Down the memory lane, Mr. Hassan remembers himself wading through the knee-deep water to Eker, which is located on the other side of the bay, after catching enough shrimps from the area.

“But now, I can’t even imagine doing so, since the water is too dirty,and the pollution has affected the availability of shrimps,” he said.

For many, especially fishermen, the bayhas the distinction of having substantial quantities of shrimps during summer.

Testifying the statement of Mr. Hassan, Al Areen Wildlife Resources, Environment and Wildlife Vice President and renowned environmental expert Dr. Ismail Al Madani pointed out, mangroves were considered a natural nursery ground for shrimps.

“The destruction of the mangroves will affect the availability of the shrimps in the area,” he said. 

The mudflats are also very important components of Tubli Bay, for they provide a habitatto many species that constitute a food source for a large number of migrating birds.

But now, the pollution has taken its toll on the arrival of migratory birds also as the area is currently witnessing lesser number of winged visitors.

For Dr. Al Madani, it’s no surprise. “Pollution will have a long-term impact on the arrival of migratory birds.Due to land reclamation, the water body has reduced considerably in size. This’ll alsoaffect the arrival of the birds,” he said. 

SadiqJaffer, who lives inSanad seems bit upset with the drop in the number of beauties that come flapping to the area.

Earlier,Mr. Jaffer said, scores of birds belonging to various species used to come there.

He remembers seeing the bulbul many a time in the past. “But now, it’s stopped coming. Maybe it doesn’t like the place anymore. Unless the authorities take adequate measures we’ll lose a beautiful paradise,” he added in a somber note.  

Tubli bay renowned globally

Tubli Bay features in the Ramsar list of internationally important wetlands.

The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance-Ramsar Convention - is the intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.

The convention was adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971 and came into force in 1975.

Since then, almost 90 per cent of UN member states have acceded to become contracting parties.

The convention aims at conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions and international cooperation, thereby achieving sustainable development throughout the world.