The Saudi Red Sea Authority (SRSA) and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cooperate on biodiversity sustainability.
The authority and the university shared that the agreement will see the two work to identify and ensure the sustainability of existing biodiversity along the Red Sea coast in Saudi Arabia, exchanging information and expertise and providing studies, reports, and consultations.
The MoU will also support marine environment protection initiatives, it was shared.
Indeed, the Red Sea is a hub for biodiversity, with its reefs alone home to more than 300 species of coral and over 1,000 species of fish.
However, climate change poses the threat of extinction and is accelerating broader biodiversity loss.
Without action, over 90 per cent of global coral reefs could be wiped out by 2050.
Under the MoU, the two are also working to align strategies for planning and implementing ongoing and new initiatives that support coastal tourism in the Red Sea, it was shared.
Alongside this, the impact of tourism activities on the marine environment will be studied, with the parties set to evaluate environmental and economic factors, update information on new international standards, regulations, and technologies, and explore ways to strengthen marine environmental protection in the face of expanding industries.