Saving Bahrain's coral reefs

Lujein Ashi - 

A Bahraini architect is on a one-man mission to resurrect the country's coral reefs by building an underwater aquarium.

Overfishing, pollution and reclamation are among the many human actions that have harmed the eco-system, according to MSCEB architects and engineers vice-president Thamer Salahuddin.

"The creation of artificial islands has covered the natural breeding grounds of fish and corals," he said.

The expert explained corals depended on the oxygen from the water and filter-feed on small organisms that currents wash into their openings.

"In the process of reclamation, a stilt happens, like when we have the desert storms here, it covers the coral and it blocks its 'breathing', so it dies," said Mr Salahuddin.

The death of the corals also means the destruction of the sanctuary and food source of many fish that eat and hide in the folds of corals.

Mr Salahuddin, who has been diving since 1987, has devised a plan to create shelters where fish can hide and preserve the beauty of the coral reef.

"I always wanted to come up with an idea that's practical, inexpensive and manoeuvrable to place in the sea," he said.

His brother Salah Salahuddin, who owns a race car, inspired him to come up with the idea two years ago.

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