Al Yasat consists of four islands in in the Western Region in Abu Dhabi. They are Upper Yasat, Lower Yasat, Esam and Karsha.
Covering an area of 482 sq. km being declared a no-take zone, which means that no one is allowed to catch, hunt or kill wildlife in the area.
Thus allowed to flourish without coming under the excessive threat of fishermen, the fish here is expected to thrive. The same goes for the coral reefs which surround the islands. As many as eight coral species can be found here, which provide shelter for overexploited fish species like the Hamour, Shaari and Farsh.
Al Yasat’s irregular coastlines, comprising rocky and sandy coastlines, have given rise to a diverse range of habitats. The area is home to marine animals like the dugong and the endangered green turtle. In addition, the critically endangered hawksbill turtle has found it to be an ideal foraging locale.
On land, desert hares can be found on the islands, where they constitute part of the ecosystem. What’s more, a breeding colony of Socotra cormorants, one of less than 15 colonies in the world, has made Upper Yasat its home.
source:
www.xray-mag.com