In a remarkable undertaking, Red Sea Global (RSG) has conducted one of the largest environmental surveys along the Red Sea coastline, covering a stretch of 250km. The survey, carried out in 2022, has unveiled a treasure trove of natural wonders, including nearly 200 fish species and several threatened and endangered species of turtles.
The RSG, known for its development projects such as The Red Sea and Amaala, played a pivotal role in supervising the study. Supported by global partner groups, a specialized scientific team employed state-of-the-art methods and technologies to monitor the critical natural assets.
Among the findings were the presence of 74 hawksbill and 145 green sea turtle nesting tracks at the Amaala site, along with a total of 251 hawksbill and 613 green sea turtle nests in the Red Sea. These figures underscore the significance of the area as a vital habitat for these endangered species.
The survey also documented an impressive range of fish species, identifying a total of 193 during 69 surveys conducted at Amaala. Notably, the most diverse families recorded were wrasse, comprising 36 species, followed by damselfish with 24 species.
John Pagano, CEO of RSG, expressed the company's belief in the crucial role of their development projects in promoting sustainable tourism and safeguarding the natural ecosystems of coastal and marine areas. He emphasized the need to establish a baseline to track progress, as RSG has set a quantifiable target of achieving a 30 percent net conservation benefit by 2040.
Pagano further affirmed their commitment to providing annual updates on the progress made towards this ambitious goal. Recognizing the incredible biodiversity surrounding their developments, RSG aims to ensure that their endeavors contribute to the protection and preservation of these natural wonders.
The extensive survey not only sheds light on the remarkable biodiversity within the Red Sea but also reinforces the importance of responsible and sustainable development practices to safeguard our planet's invaluable ecosystems.