In an attempt to preserve and protect the country’s biodiversity, Qatar’s Ministry of Municipality and Environment, Qatargas, and Qatar University have launched a joint initiative to build artificial coral reef habitats. This project entails the relocation of coral reefs and the planting of artificial coral reefs in precise locations. In the words of the active head of environmental and regulatory affairs, “The programme aims at increasing spaces for marine habitats of the country, protecting coral reefs and support the scientific research of QU laboratory in growing artificial coral reefs” (Abdallah). In this case study, I look at Qatar’s efforts to preserve ocean biodiversity by creating artificial coral reefs, highlighting the methods, reasons, and consequences of such projects.
While the specific roles of each partner are not directly outlined, the project is divided into four distinct phases: the first is choosing a suitable location through environmental evaluation studies; the second is constructing an artificial coral reef and expertly deploying it in the water; the third is moving live coral reefs to the chosen location; the fourth is reporting on the project’s progress, the response of marine life to the locations, and the growth of coral reefs (Abdallah). One prominent implication of such a project is the question of whether it is permissible to alter nature. Does tampering with nature to preserve it change the moral stakes? The philosophical debate of preserving vs altering nature becomes critical in this case, where we may wonder if there is a third alternative of “altering to preserve” nature, as in Qatar’s case.
Another follow-up implication is that this project entails a form of invasion. The artificial coral reefs that will replace the natural reefs raise questions about what we perceive as “nature” or the “natural” by extending what we may consider as wilderness to non-natural localities. If what we consider as nature is simply nonhuman creations, then we may be in a predicament over whether or not manmade reefs count as “nature,” but if not, then what are the boundaries of “nature” or the “natural”? Similarly, an initiative of this form, and with such ambitions, implies an important sense of techno-optimism.
Faced with the dilemma of rapidly declining ocean biodiversity, damaged coral reefs, and a potential 30% decrease in fish catch potential (Doha News), the actors in this case, and mainly the Municipality of Environment and Climate Change, chose an approach that perhaps minimizes or excludes any economic losses for them. Rather than targeting the root of the problem by decreasing CO2 emissions and oil dependence, the agents involved opted for a more technologically reliant response. This is possibly indicative of the willingness, or lack thereof, of actors within the Gulf region, but also globally, to incur losses in the process of transition.
Finally, the participation of Qatargas is also a significant element of this project. The involvement of the Municipality of Environment and Climate Change is to a certain degree self-explanatory, the involvement of Qatar University is in support of the scientific research it has been conducting, but there’s no real obvious reason for the involvement of an energy company in this initiative. This raises the concern of oil or energy as a modulator of society and makes the role of Qatargas essential to examine, in order to get the complete image of the form and consequences of this initiative. Overall, through an examination of this project from an environmental humanities perspective, this case study aims to explore different aspects of this initiative through the scope of varying theories and themes discussed within environmental literature to gain a broader understanding of the potential benefits, but also some questions that arise morally, philosophically, and ecologically.
Works Cited
“While Artificial Reefs Generally Enhance Local Economies, they Can Have Both Positive and Negative Effects on Ecosystems.” Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, 13 June 2011, https://floridakeys.noaa.gov/artificialreefs/effects.html
Abdallah, Hala. “What’s Being Done to Protect Qatar’s Coral Reefs.” Doha News, 21 Nov. 2021, https://dohanews.co/whats-being-done-to-protect-qatars-coral-reefs/.
Ritvo, Harriet. “Invasion/Invasive.” Environmental Humanities, vol. 9, no. 1, May 2017, pp. 171-174.
