The Iran war has severely threatened sensitive marine and coastal ecosystems across the Persian Gulf, with oil spills, military strikes and damage to coastal infrastructure threatening coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds, wetlands and marine life, according to an analysis published in the International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science.
The study found that the conflict has compounded existing pressures from climate change, coastal development and unsustainable exploitation, warning that the resulting ecological damage has also undermined fisheries, aquaculture, desalination and ecotourism.
The Persian Gulf is estimated to be home to more than 700 fish species and provides critical habitats for dugongs, dolphins, whales, sea turtles, sharks and migratory birds, many of which have been put at risk as a result of Iran’s attacks on oil and energy infrastructure in the region.
<strong>The conflict's compounding risks for marine life</strong><a href="https://awekcun.leakedpics.workers.dev/environment-and-climate-change"></a>
Global warming and pollution have already put pressure on the region’s marine life, while the conflict has added further risks to species that depend on the Gulf’s waters, the researchers stressed.
Oil released into the water after attacks on tankers and other infrastructure can damage the cardiac, respiratory and immune systems of marine animals, while its neurotoxic effects can disrupt navigation and sensory processing in species such as dolphins and turtles.
A central example offered is the Iranian vessel Shahid Bagheri, which was confirmed to have been leaking heavy oil into the Khuran Strait for at least a month after being struck in March.
The vessel is grounded in shallow waters approximately five kilometers off Qeshm Island, and the study predicted that prevailing currents were carrying contamination westward toward the Hara wetlands and the protected Hara Biosphere Reserve.
The UNESCO-recognized reserve, the largest mangrove forest in the Persian Gulf and an important habitat for migratory birds, fish, and endangered turtles, has not been cleaned up despite the temporary ceasefire, according to the researchers, as a result of maritime tensions and the interference of GPS and AIS signals, which have obstructed coordination among international environmental response groups.
Additionally, nearly 2,000 ships stranded by the attacks and ongoing blockade are carrying an estimated 21 billion liters of oil, raising the risk of further environmental damage. The Strait of Hormuz is not only a vital route for global oil shipments but also a habitat for dolphins, whale sharks and critically endangered Arabian humpback whales, all of which could be harmed by oil spills or attacks on vessels.
Kharg Island, which has critical coral reefs surrounding it, is also in danger, given that it is Iran’s primary oil export hub and a significant military target, the researchers noted, especially given that dredging and land reclamation have already reduced the resilience of coral reefs.
Violations of environmental laws, agreements
Beyond the ecological damage, the analysis argues that the conflict has resulted in violations of international, regional and national environmental laws and agreements, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, Convention on Biological Diversity, Ramsar Convention, Convention on Migratory Species, Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds and International Maritime Organization conventions.
The researchers advised that there were several key steps that could be taken to either mitigate the damage already done and prevent future harm.
Theorizing that the Gulf’s ecosystems can recover through targeted restoration and regional cooperation, it recommended expanding coral transplantation through nurseries and transplantation projects, including initiatives around Kuwait’s Kubbar and Qaru islands, Oman’s Musandam and Muscat, and reef patches near Kharg Island and the Strait of Hormuz.
The study also recommended restoring seagrass through transplantation and sediment stabilization, particularly in Qatar’s Ras Laffan, Abu Dhabi’s seagrass meadows and Bahrain’s pearl oyster beds.
It was also recommended that a regional biodiversity monitoring program conduct regular health assessments of dugongs, dolphins and whale sharks, including veterinary interventions by marine biologists to detect stress, disease and injury, and that a Gulf-wide oil spill response system be developed.
To ensure regional cooperation, despite the tensions, it suggested that the United Nations oversee the establishment and running of a Gulf ecological union to coordinate ecological restoration, resilience planning, monitoring and conflict-sensitive environmental governance across the Gulf.
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