ASSESSMENT OF THE PRESENT STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT; IN PORT SUDAN HARBOUR AREA

Abstract

The Red Sea since ancient times is considered as a vital trade maritime route and an important source of food and livelihood for many co astal inhabitants. Its geographical location (in an arid zone area) geological structur e and semi enclosed nature, have created peculiar characteristic features manifested in a broad spectrum of complex habitats with high biological diversity. It is, the refore, described as one of the most important repositories and centre of biodiversity i n the world (Ormond, 1986, Krupp etal, 1994).

The Sudanese Red Sea (about 750 km or more) which i s located at the central part of the Red Sea conforms to such patterns. It is partic ularly famous of its exceptionally unique and varied habitats with rich biological com munities, especially coral reefs. Its productive and highly sensitive coastal and marine habitats (coastal halophytes, mangroves, seagrasses / algal beds and coral reefs) harbour enormous counts of ecologically and commercially important fisheries r esources. This is in addition to rare mammals, turtles and birds.