Some Proposed Places as Marine Protected Areas in the Syrian Coast, and Their Topographical & Biological Properties

This research was carried out along the Syrian coast during the period from October 2018 to January 2021, with the aim of studying some factors that help in suggesting the best places to declare them as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The coast was surveyed and five places were selected for the topographical and biological studies, which included the location, extension, and the presence of islands, bays, permanent flowing rivers, and the nature & biology of the coast and the bottom. These features were documented with photographs and geographical coordinates. The results have suggested to establish four reserves, in addition to the existing MPA : Al- Samra region as a Wilderness Reserve, and Ras Al-Baseet - Umm Al-Tuyour, John Jableh and South Amrit regions as "Man and Biosphere" Reserves: the existing reserve in Ras Ibn Hani is suggested to be declared as a "Strict Nature Reserve" for "Scientific Research", since it is adjacent to the Higher Institute of Marine Research. A range of natural habitats have been proposed as Specially Protected Areas (SPAs); they include sea turtle breeding habitats, Mediterranean Monk Seal habitats and cetaceans habitats. This is in addition to the wetland reserves in Laha marsh (near Al-Hamidiya) and AlSin river basin. These MPAs, SPAs and wetland protected areas combination, provide an integrated national protection network for all marine and coastal ecosystems.