Abu Dhabi: The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) announced that for the first time in the Middle East, Abu Dhabi will host the 16th International Seagrass Biology Workshop (ISBW) in 2026. The announcement was made by the World Seagrass Association (WSA) and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature – Sea Grass Specialist Group (IUCN – SSG) on August 1, 2024.
According to Emirates News Agency, the ISBW, first held in Kominato, Japan in 1993, serves as a platform for governments, scientists, researchers, and specialists in the field of coastal and marine environments. The workshop aims to address global seagrass issues, enhance seagrass knowledge, and develop networks advocating for seagrass protection and conservation. This biennial event also supports and monitors global research on seagrass, aiming to foster positive management outcomes for coastal seagrass environments.
Her Excellency Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary-General of EAD, highlighted that hosting the 16th ISBW in Abu Dhab
i reinforces the emirate’s pioneering role in biodiversity conservation. She emphasized the UAE’s commitment to protecting seagrasses under Federal Law No. 24 of 1999, recognizing their ecological importance. Dr. Al Dhaheri noted that seagrass offers significant advantages in mitigating climate change, protecting biodiversity, and achieving sustainable development goals. She revealed that Abu Dhabi’s seagrass beds store up to 52 tonnes of blue carbon per hectare, making them a vital nature-based solution to combat climate change.
Ahmed Al Hashmi, Executive Director of the Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity Sector, stated that EAD’s selection to host the workshop is a testament to its efforts in seagrass conservation since 2001. The mapped extent of Abu Dhabi’s seagrass area exceeds 3,000 square kilometers, accounting for over 98 percent of the seagrass area in the UAE. Al Hashmi explained that the seagrass species in Abu Dhabi support significant biodiversity, including more than 3,000 dugongs and over 4,00
0 green turtles. These species also provide nursery habitats for commercially important fish, pearl oysters, shrimps, and other marine life.
Seagrass is crucial for carbon storage, covering only 0.1 percent of the ocean floor but storing up to 18 percent of oceanic Blue Carbon. Found in shallow waters of 159 countries across six continents, seagrass is one of the world’s most efficient carbon stores, emphasizing its global ecological significance.
