Sensitivity of the Kuwait Coastal Environment to Potential Oil Spill Impact

Molecular and morphological systematics of a new, reef forming, cupped oyster from the northern Arabian Gulf: Talonostrea salpinx new species

“…If T. salpinx is alien in the Arabian Gulf, then its origins are unknown and at this time we have little data on the age of the oyster reef at Khor Al-Subiyah or the oyster field at Ashairij. Al-Bakri et al (1985) includes photographs of the oyster reefs in Khor Al-Subiyah and the oyster field at Ashairij and these illustrate how extensive and well developed the reefs were at that time (Fig. 8 ).…”

“… Photographs of Talonostrea salpinx sp. nov. beds and reefs from Al-Bakri et al 1985 A–C reefs and beds in Khor Al-Subiyah D oyster field at Al-Memlahah, south-eastern end of Kuwait Bay. …”

“…The invertebrate fauna of the northern Arabian Gulf and that of Kuwait has a relatively recent investigation period as evidenced by the dearth of specific literature cited by Jones (1986) . While Kuwait and the Arabian Gulf were famous for the pearl fishing industry ( Al-Shamlãn 2000 ) and molluscs have been exploited for food for thousands of years ( Cataliotti-Valdina 1990 ; Prieur 2011 ), the scientific investigation only dates from the 1980s ( Al-Bakri et al 1985 ). Although famous for pearl oysters ( Pinctada ), true oysters ( Ostreidae ) are a prominent feature of some shores, particularly around the island of Boubyan ( Omar and Roy 2014 ).…”