Recommendations and Strategies to Mitigate Environmental Implications of Artificial Island Developments in the Gulf

Abstract

Artificial island development (AID) to tackle rampant urbanization on scarce land puts all marine biodiversity at huge risk and is recognized as a global conservation issue worldwide. This study critically reviews the gaps that undermined biodiversity and ecology during construction activities of the artificial islands in the Gulf region that could be alleviated if apposite environmental values and sustainable strategies of different regions of the world had paid enough heed to economic and social aspects. The method used for this study was an analytical descriptive literature survey, and the resources were chosen after three phases of quality assessment. This survey found various barricades to sustainable AID, such as lack of scientific data, adequate site selection, ineffective environmental evaluations, noncompliance with legislation, and economic gains over the environmental aspects. It was concluded that to protect the marine ecosystem from inevitable degradation, strict compliance with international and national legislation, research and baseline data collection, strengthening of the existing environmental assessment, continuous capacity building, and modern practices of different countries should be brought to the forefront. Furthermore, this study aims to provide guidance to policymakers and governmental organizations to mitigate emerging environmental issues during AID through strategic decision-making processes.

Marine Infrastructure Detection with Satellite Data—A Review

“…Other types of infrastructure at sea are already planned or under construction. These include, for example, floating solar panels such as those in Singapore [119], energy islands such as those planned in the North Sea and Baltic Sea [120], oil infrastructure and storage islands such as those already built in the Persian Gulf [121] and further sand fillings on atolls for the construction of offshore infrastructure [8]. Offshore oil and gas platforms likely will expand into the Arctic and Antarctic regions as the ice melts [6].…”

Revitalising the Coastal Landscape of Qatar: The Urban Renewal Approach in Westbay

“…While land reclamation projects have been an important means of addressing land scarcity and promoting economic development in many coastal regions around the world, including the Gulf region, these projects have also been associated with a range of negative environmental impacts, including habitat loss, water pollution, and disturbance to marine ecosystems [14,15]. It is essential to assess the sustainability of land reclamation projects to identify and minimize their negative impacts and to ensure their long-term viability.…”

The role of environmental impact assessment in the sustainable artificial island development: A Qatar's Island case study

“…Rampant population growth and economic advancement put a huge burden on available land and are the omen of land shortage to meet numerous demands of urban centers for future generations (Nadim et al, 2008). To address the challenge, huge water cover with diverse resources has gained enough attention for artificial island development (AID) to facilitate housing, commercial, industrial, trade, tourism, and increasing urban space (Afzal et al, 2022;Henderson, 2014). Moreover, marine species, including flora and fauna, inhabit the harshest condition due to natural stressors such as low pH, high salinity, and severe temperature fluctuations (Uddin et al, 2012).…”