Farasan Islands Marine Reserve

The Farasan Islands Marine Reserve is a natural reserve in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, located in the southeastern section of the Red Sea, about forty-two km off the coast of the city of Jazan. The reserve contains more than eighty-four islands, the largest of which are Greater Farasan, Saqid (Smaller Farasan), and Qamah; which are inhabited islands, with the majority of the local population employed in fishing, as well as millet and maize farming. It is the only reserve located in the Jazan Province.

The reserve was founded during the reign of King Fahd Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in 1989, the same year as the founding of al-Tubayq and Raydah Natural Reserves was announced. The Farasan Islands Marine Sanctuary is the sixth largest protected area supervised by the National Centre for Wildlife in terms of surface area, after the reserves of 'Uruq Bani Ma'arid, al-Tubayq, al-Khunfah, Harrat al-Harrah, and Saja and Umm ar-Rimth, with an area of up to 5,408 km. Protection in the reserve is divided into two levels: one for wild and marine animals, and another for the environment and flora.

The Farasan Islands Marine Reserve consists of valley limestone landscapes averaging in height ten to twenty m above sea level, reaching forty m in some areas. The maximum height of these landscapes is 75 m, locally dubbed mountains, with a number of short canyons pouring into the sea. Their coasts are covered with white limestone sands resulting from coral reef and seashell impactions.

In addition to its role in protecting marine species – mainly fish – from overfishing, the Farasan Islands Marine Reserve performs several roles, most notably: protecting coral reefs and marine life from damage and pollution; stimulating ecotourism; and providing a conducive environment for citizens and residents of the Kingdom to enjoy nature reserves.

Farasan Islands Marine Sanctuary in Jazan Province southwest of the Kingdom. (SPA)

The most important tree species at the Farasan Islands Marine Reserve are al-Samar (acacias), Impatiens, sidr (Ziziphus spina-christi), and Arak (Salvadora persica), along with Avicennia and Rhizophora trees that form dense coastal thickets, in addition to mesquite trees (Prosopis laevigata).

The Farasan Islands Marine Reserve is distinct for its indigenous Arabian gazelle on some of its islands, as well as the white-tailed mongoose (Ichneumia albicauda), and several species of rodents.

The reserve comprises a range of waterfowl, coastal and migratory birds, most notably ospreys (Pandion haliaetus), spot-billed (or gray) pelicans (Pelecanus philippensis), grey-headed gulls (Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus), herons (Ardeidae), and sooty falcons (Falco concolor), in addition to certain dove, lizard, and snake species.

The reserve is a famous shelter for wildlife and marine life, and a critically important area in terms of fauna, flora, and geological features. The reserve is earmarked and managed for conservation purposes and to provide unique opportunities for study and research.
The combined area of all natural reserves in the Kingdom is estimated at 10.42 percent of the Kingdom's total area.