Jordan, a relatively small country in the Middle East, faces many pressing environmental and social issues. One of its most complex development issues is the sustainable management of its short, fragile and over-exploited coastal area in the port city of Aqaba.

The Jordanian segment of the Gulf of Aqaba is only 27 km long. Being the only port in Jordan, many development activities have engulfed the short coastline in the last decades. Currently, only 7 km of the beach is still natural and devoid of ports, hotels and industries.

This fragile ecosystem has its unique ecological features, comprising the northernmost distributions of coral reefs in the world and a world-class center of attraction for divers. However, the stress of development in Aqaba and the fierce competition between transport, tourism and industry sectors to occupy the beach have left the environment of Aqaba fighting a difficult battle against coastal and marine ecosystem deterioration and marine pollution.

The Aqaba region entered a new era in 2000 with the declaration of Aqaba as a “Special Economic Zone”. This transformation means that the city of Aqaba and its marine environment will come under increasing pressure of economic development and growth.
This comprehensive intensification in economic activity in Aqaba places the marine ecosystem under increasing threat, and preservation of Aqaba’s marine environment has become one of the country’s foremost environmental concerns. The Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority has developed environmental protection bylaws and regulations, and 7 kilometers of beach and coral reefs fall under the protection of the Aqaba Marine Park. While the park and environmental legislation form a sound foundation for marine environmental protection, successful sustainable management of Aqaba’s economic development and preservation of its marine environment require the integration of the efforts of various institutions and community groups, as well as the private and government sectors.

JREDS's marine conservation programs emerged primarily from a serious need to protect the national heritage and biodiversity of the marine environment in Aqaba. We, at JREDS, strive to reduce the pressure on the marine environment, by engaging all stakeholders in the joint task of preserving our marine heritage.