RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Wildlife has introduced a new national program to track invasive marine species in the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.
In collaboration with the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, the program aims to reinforce the country’s efforts to conserve marine biodiversity and protect ecosystems.
It is the first coordinated national effort to create a comprehensive database of non-native and invasive marine species in the Kingdom’s waters.
The program uses advanced research methods including field surveys, DNA barcoding and maritime traffic analysis to develop accurate scientific imaging of species distribution and dispersal pathways.
Preliminary results revealed hundreds of potential non-native marine species, including 181 in the Red Sea and 168 in the Arabian Gulf.
