A master's thesis in the Department of Fish and Marine Resources - College of Agriculture - University of Basrah discussed the "effect of salinity oscillation in the lower reaches of the Shatt al-Arab on the state of the fish community".
The thesis of the student Fouad Sabah Bulbul, supervised by Prof. Dr. Sajid Saad Hassan and Ms. Raja Abd Ali Muhammad Hussain identified two stations for studying and collecting samples, the first was 2 km south of Siba and the second was in Ras Al-Bisha, 10 km south of Al-Faw. The sampling period extended for one year, during which environmental characteristics were recorded and fish were collected and classified.
It was noted that the levels of salinity and temperature are high compared to previous years, as well as a correlation between the specific composition of fish, salinity and temperature. The first station was more abundant and qualitative in fish compared to the second station because of the advance of the salt front of the waters of the Arabian Gulf, and the decrease in the qualitative abundance of economically important river fish.
The researcher recommended the continuation of environmental monitoring of the Shatt al-Arab waters, as well as the use of various software to determine the biological diversity of aquatic organisms, mainly fish, in addition to the need for the competent authorities to activate the law to prevent overfishing during the spring and fall months during the season of fish breeding and feeding.
Also, the coasts of the region can be exploited for breeding some types of fish that are highly salt-tolerant, in addition to the necessity of perpetuating projects and studies related to monitoring environmental changes and biodiversity in the Shatt al-Arab.
