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Contrasts to land, waters in this area are parts of the [[Canary Islands|Canary]] Current System, a highly productive [[ocean current]] and the [[Nouadhibou]] Upwelling, one of major [[Upwelling|upwelling zone]]s locates just off the continent shelf. This makes the area one of the richest grounds for fishery in the world, and Cintra Bay itself serves as a spawning ground for [[sardine]]s.<ref>{{cite journal|publisher=Associazione Friend of the Sea|title=Fishery Audit Report Checklist|url=http://www.friendofthesea.org/public/catalogo/checklist_friend_of_the_sea_fishery%20audit%20report%20checklist%202009%20sardina%20pilchardus%20purse%20seine%20morocco%20fao34.pdf|format=PDF|accessdate=2014-12-27}}</ref> [[Cephalaspidea]] can also be found within the bay.<ref>Malaquias E. A. M.. Ohnheiser T. L.. Oskars R.T.. Willassen E.. 2016. [http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/zoj.12478/full Diversity and systematics of philinid snails (Gastropoda: Cephalaspidea) in West Africa with remarks on the biogeography of the region]. DOI: 10.1111/zoj.12478. [[Wiley Online Library]]. Retrieved on March 20, 2017</ref>
Contrasts to land, waters in this area are parts of the [[Canary Islands|Canary]] Current System, a highly productive [[ocean current]] and the [[Nouadhibou]] Upwelling, one of major [[Upwelling|upwelling zone]]s locates just off the continent shelf. This makes the area one of the richest grounds for fishery in the world, and Cintra Bay itself serves as a spawning ground for [[sardine]]s.<ref>{{cite journal|publisher=Associazione Friend of the Sea|title=Fishery Audit Report Checklist|url=http://www.friendofthesea.org/public/catalogo/checklist_friend_of_the_sea_fishery%20audit%20report%20checklist%202009%20sardina%20pilchardus%20purse%20seine%20morocco%20fao34.pdf|format=PDF|accessdate=2014-12-27}}</ref> [[Cephalaspidea]] can also be found within the bay.<ref>Malaquias E. A. M.. Ohnheiser T. L.. Oskars R.T.. Willassen E.. 2016. [http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/zoj.12478/full Diversity and systematics of philinid snails (Gastropoda: Cephalaspidea) in West Africa with remarks on the biogeography of the region]. DOI: 10.1111/zoj.12478. [[Wiley Online Library]]. Retrieved on March 20, 2017</ref>


Both the environment and bio diversities of Cintra Bay are under threat of ongoing plan to strengthen Morocco's aquacultures with supports from EU,<ref>[http://www.wsrw.org/a105x3682 EU funding to fish sector in occupied Western Sahara increases]. Retrieved on March 30, 2017</ref><ref>The Sahara Question. 2013. [http://sahara-question.com/en/news/spanish-consortium-wins-morocco-tender-develop-aquaculture-dakhla-region SPANISH CONSORTIUM WINS MOROCCO TENDER TO DEVELOP AQUACULTURE IN DAKHLA REGION]. Retrieved on December 26. 2014</ref><ref name=MoroccoAquaculture /><ref>https://www.anda.gov.ma/sites/default/files/sites/default/files/publications/Plan-aquacole-Oued%20Eddahab-fr-web.pdf</ref> and needs of researches notably on [[right whale]]s<ref>Reeves R. R.. Leatherwood S..[https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/1994-014.pdf 1994-1998 Action Plan for the Conservation of Cetaceans: Dolphins, Porpoises, and Whales] (pdf). The [[International Union for Conservation of Nature|lUCN]] Conservation Library. Retrieved on March 28, 2017</ref> and protections along with securing local fishing communities have been suggested.<ref>Economic, Social and Environmental Council of Morocco. 2013. [http://www.ces.ma/Documents/PDF/Report-New%20development%20model%20for%20the%20southern%20provinces.pdf. New Development Model for the Southern Provinces] (pdf). Retrieved on March 28, 2017</ref>
Both the environment and bio diversities of Cintra Bay are under threat of ongoing plan to strengthen Morocco's aquacultures with supports from EU,<ref>[http://www.wsrw.org/a105x3682 EU funding to fish sector in occupied Western Sahara increases]. Retrieved on March 30, 2017</ref><ref>The Sahara Question. 2013. [http://sahara-question.com/en/news/spanish-consortium-wins-morocco-tender-develop-aquaculture-dakhla-region SPANISH CONSORTIUM WINS MOROCCO TENDER TO DEVELOP AQUACULTURE IN DAKHLA REGION]. Retrieved on December 26. 2014</ref><ref name=MoroccoAquaculture /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.anda.gov.ma/sites/default/files/sites/default/files/publications/Plan-aquacole-Oued%20Eddahab-fr-web.pdf |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2016-04-29 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160514004801/https://www.anda.gov.ma/sites/default/files/sites/default/files/publications/Plan-aquacole-Oued%20Eddahab-fr-web.pdf |archivedate=2016-05-14 |df= }}</ref> and needs of researches notably on [[right whale]]s<ref>Reeves R. R.. Leatherwood S..[https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/1994-014.pdf 1994-1998 Action Plan for the Conservation of Cetaceans: Dolphins, Porpoises, and Whales] (pdf). The [[International Union for Conservation of Nature|lUCN]] Conservation Library. Retrieved on March 28, 2017</ref> and protections along with securing local fishing communities have been suggested.<ref>Economic, Social and Environmental Council of Morocco. 2013. [http://www.ces.ma/Documents/PDF/Report-New%20development%20model%20for%20the%20southern%20provinces.pdf. New Development Model for the Southern Provinces] (pdf). Retrieved on March 28, 2017</ref>


===Marine mammals===
===Marine mammals===

Revision as of 01:40, 8 August 2017

Template:Geobox

Earth's ocean

Main five oceans division:

Further subdivision:

Marginal seas

Cintra Bay or the Gulf of Cintra is a large, half-moon shaped[1] bay on the coast of Río de Oro province, Western Sahara. It is located about 120 km (75 mi) south of Dakhla region and its coastline is scarcely populated and thus keeping wild environment on today.

Etymology

See also: Spanish protectorate in Morocco

The area was originally called "St. Cyprian’s Bay" but was renamed after the incident of Gonçalo de Sintra, hence the bay's center point was named the same as his name.[2]

Treaty of Angra de Cintra in 1958 was named after Cintra Bay and this agreement led to ending the War of Ifni.

Geography

The bay is open, and is very shallow in general (the average depth of central part is 10 meters),[3][4] and lining 29 nautical miles between Punta del Pescador and the Lagouira bay.[4] About 24 km (15 mi) or more in diameter, lining from the northern cape Puntilla de las Raimas near Via Candelaria and Hassi Amatai south to the Puntila Negra or Punta Negra near Las Talaitas.[5] Its width is about 12 km (7.5 mi) or more from the deepest point of the bay is at Hasi el Beied, locating on near middle of Cintra Bay. Gulf waters are consisted of inner Angra de Citra and outer areas of Bajo El Tortugo, Bajo Ahogado, and Bajo del Medio Golfo. Waters on pelagic out of Cintra Bay is called Bajo Arcila. Cliffs, dunes, beaches, and lagoons are the majorities of coastal landscapes. A large lagoon, Bajo Tortugo ("Bay of the Little Tortoise") is in northern side and there is an area named Las Matorrales in southern part. Several hills that some of which are with flattened top or peaks can be seen along the region.

Cintra bay has two peninsulas at the each end; Punta de las Raimas in north is 2 mi (3.2 km) in length and is sandy in major and has sandy rocks and a reef at the tip, while a sandy hill can be found on the Punta Negra and which reefs extending about 2 mi (3.2 km) surround it.[4]

The shoal off southwest of Cintra Bay is called Banco de Sylvia. Other notable locations vicinity to Cintra Bay are Itmlily between Dakhla and Cintra Bay, and Amseisat Saccum and Imlili further east to inner desert from Cintra Bay.

Across the opposite side of Las Taraitas and Morro de Gorrei, there lies the Bay of Gorrei or the Bahia de Gorrei, a very similar-shaped but smaller than Cintra Bay. Interestingly, there are several other bays or inlets of shapes almost identical to Cintra or Gorrei Bays along Rio de Oro region.

Bathymetry

Geographical and bathymetric factors of the Cintra bay make it a suitable ground for fishing and aquaculture.[4] Shallowness and closedness result in the highest water temperatures among the region.

The south-north current goes only within the bay which is affected by tides notably in areas nearby open water. This current also causes a vortex flows in levorotation at the northern area.[4]

Natural history

See also: Dakhla, Western Sahara; Banc d'Arguin National Park; and Atlantic coastal desert

Its coastline and surrounding areas are parts of western Sahara Desert, being covered mostly by dunes and making Cintra bay's vegetations very poor.

Contrasts to land, waters in this area are parts of the Canary Current System, a highly productive ocean current and the Nouadhibou Upwelling, one of major upwelling zones locates just off the continent shelf. This makes the area one of the richest grounds for fishery in the world, and Cintra Bay itself serves as a spawning ground for sardines.[6] Cephalaspidea can also be found within the bay.[7]

Both the environment and bio diversities of Cintra Bay are under threat of ongoing plan to strengthen Morocco's aquacultures with supports from EU,[8][9][4][10] and needs of researches notably on right whales[11] and protections along with securing local fishing communities have been suggested.[12]

Marine mammals

Cetaceans

Based on 19th-century whaling records, the coastline from 10 miles north of Puntilla de las Raimas, northern end of Cintra Bay (also called in various names including "Center", "Centra", "Senter", "Gora", "Gore", "Goree" Bay by whalers), Cintra Bay and Bahia de Gorrei as the center for both locational and catch quantities, and to 20 miles north of Cabo Barbas (and possibly broader range[13]) was the only known locations where the eastern North Atlantic population of North Atlantic right whales ever used as a wintering or calving ground historically, and was the most busy winter whaling area in the 19th century.[14] These whales are now thought to be either extinct or in the low-tens of animals left at best.[15] In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Cintra Bay Ground was one of three or four major grounds for right whale hunting in the North Atlantic along with the south-eastern coastal United States, Cape Farewell in Greenland, and probably the Icelandic region and also being one of two winter-spring fields along with the US coasts.[16] A total of approximately 92 whales and some more were killed during 44 visits by whalers from November to April, giving this region the highest catch density in the 19th century, though whaling was not carried out during all seasons where 82 of those animals were actually taken in the first two years of 1855-56, probably with some other species such as the humpbacks. A scientific survey throughout the coasts extending to Dakhla peninsula/bay was conducted in 1998 and no evidence of any right whales still using the area was found.[17] It was also found that these coastal waters were surprisingly poor in cetacean biodiversity, only two species were found regularly but within very small numbers and both were found only in the Dakhla Bay region: larger type of bottlenose dolphins and Atlantic humpback dolphins. Killer whales are known to occur along coasts of Western Sahara today[18] and occasionally in large numbers in the past days according to whaling logs.

  • Recent studies allowed hopes that Cinta Bay may possibly be recolonized by right whales from the western population in the future, as the two populations have been revealed to be much closer to each other than in theories thought in the past.[19]

Regardless of habitat densities, for baleen whales, at least fins, Brydes', seis,[20][21] and minke whales[22] are known to still occur along the coasts of Western Sahara. Of these, fin whales and Bryde's whales had been confirmed in Dakhla and Cintra - Gorrei areas. Other species such as Risso's dolphins,[23] common dolphins, rough-toothed dolphins, and harbor porpoises[24] that have been confirmed in Bay of Arguin area may possibly occur here as well.

Pinnipeds

Along with cetaceans, Cintra Bay may provide an important habitat for critically endangered Mediterranean monk seals.[25][26] They were severely hunted to the brink of extinction especially in the 15th century by European sealers and local tribes, and are now almost extinct in the Mediterranean Sea. Though not in Cintra Bay, Cabo Blanco on Dakhla Peninsula still hosts the largest of remaining colonies in the world.[27]

Sea reptiles

Sea turtles are known to nest on the beach along the bay.[25] There have been studies focusing on Dakhla region.[28]

Birds

Many species of migratory birds and oceanic birds such as Western Palearctic waders inhabit for wintering on West Sahara´s coastline and more notably in the Cintra Bay region and the Banc d'Arguin National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mauritania where nearly 110 species of seabirds are confirmed.[29][30] Based on bio-tracking studies, osprey is also a species to migrate here.[31]

Terrestrial species

A large fraction of the biodiversity of terrestrial animals along the bay is unclear or has not been studied. Friendly camels (dromedary) live around the coast.[32]

Settlements

One of settlements adjacent to Cintra Bay

The area is very remoted and almost unpopulated as only several small fishing settlements of shacks are scattered along the coast. Of these, Puntillas de las Raimas which is at Bajo Tortugo, the northern end of the bay is the largest. However, the village drastically shrunk in population size for the past decade, and the fishing village of Las Raimas was almost abandoned as of 2012.[23]

Porto Rico, another fishing settlement in north of the bay also lost significant township.[33]

The closest urban city is at Dakhla, approximately 120 km away from Cintra Bay.

Tourism

Although Cintra Bay has been considered as one of local attractions, sandstorms especially in spring and mines collected from Cabo Barbas make the area not suitable for tourist destination.[34]

See also

References

  1. ^ Burkhalter M. (2011). "Cintra Bay West Sahara". p. Panoramio. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  2. ^ S, Chris (27 March 2016). "'V' is for Vintage Sahara Maps". Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  3. ^ http://www.equipement.gov.ma/maritime/PORTS/La%20connaissance-du-milieu/Documents/Annuaire%20des%20cotes_DAKHLA.pdf.
  4. ^ a b c d e f NATIONAL AGENCY FOR AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT of KINGDOM OF MOROCCO. CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST MARINE AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT INED DAKHLA OUED ED DAHAB REGION (pdf). Retrieved on March 28, 2017
  5. ^ Around Guides. Angra de Cintra. Retrieved on December 27. 2014
  6. ^ "Fishery Audit Report Checklist" (PDF). Associazione Friend of the Sea. Retrieved 2014-12-27. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  7. ^ Malaquias E. A. M.. Ohnheiser T. L.. Oskars R.T.. Willassen E.. 2016. Diversity and systematics of philinid snails (Gastropoda: Cephalaspidea) in West Africa with remarks on the biogeography of the region. DOI: 10.1111/zoj.12478. Wiley Online Library. Retrieved on March 20, 2017
  8. ^ EU funding to fish sector in occupied Western Sahara increases. Retrieved on March 30, 2017
  9. ^ The Sahara Question. 2013. SPANISH CONSORTIUM WINS MOROCCO TENDER TO DEVELOP AQUACULTURE IN DAKHLA REGION. Retrieved on December 26. 2014
  10. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-05-14. Retrieved 2016-04-29. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. ^ Reeves R. R.. Leatherwood S..1994-1998 Action Plan for the Conservation of Cetaceans: Dolphins, Porpoises, and Whales (pdf). The lUCN Conservation Library. Retrieved on March 28, 2017
  12. ^ Economic, Social and Environmental Council of Morocco. 2013. New Development Model for the Southern Provinces (pdf). Retrieved on March 28, 2017
  13. ^ Duke University (2008). "–Spatial Ecology of the North Atlantic Right Whale (Eubalaena Glacialis)" (pdf). The ProQuest. Retrieved 2017-03-30.
  14. ^ Reeves R.R. (2001). "Overview of catch history, historic abundance and distribution of right whales in the western North Atlantic and in Cintra Bay, West Africa". Journal of Cetacean Research and Management. pp. 187–192. {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)
  15. ^ "Winter sighting of a known western North Atlantic right whale in the Azores" (PDF). Journal of Cetacean Research and Management. 12: 65–69. 2012. Retrieved 2013-04-28. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |authors= ignored (help)
  16. ^ Reeves, R.R.; Mitchell, E. (1986). "American pelagic whaling for right whales in the North Atlantic" (PDF). Report of the International Whaling Commission Special Issue 10: 221–254. Retrieved 2013-10-09.
  17. ^ Donovan P.G.; et al., eds. (1998). "A Winter Cetacean Survey off Southern Morocco, With a Special Emphasis on Right Whales" (PDF). The Annual Report of the International Whaling Commission À (SC/49/O 3). 48: 547–551. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-10-02. Retrieved 2013-04-28. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |authors= ignored (help)
  18. ^ Ed Temperley. "Postcards From The Sahara". MSW-Magic Sea Weed. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  19. ^ "A whale named Pico". Whale and Dolphin Conservation. 11 April 2014. p. nicola.hodgins's blog. Retrieved 2014-04-28.
  20. ^ Walsh D. (2006), Sei Whale, Greenpeace, p. the DaveWalshPhoto.com, retrieved 2014-12-19
  21. ^ White R. (2013), At Sea, from Senegal to Western Sahara - Apr 17, 2013 - National Geographic Explorer, the Lindblad Expeditions - National Geographic, retrieved 2014-12-19
  22. ^ "Spatial and temporal distribution of the minke Whale,Balaenoptera acutorostrata (Lacépede, 1804), in the southernnortheast Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, With reference to stock identity" (PDF). J. Cetacean Res. Manag. l (3): 223–237. Retrieved 2014-12-20. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |authors= ignored (help)
  23. ^ a b Paul Wildlifewriter. 2014. Ghost Town - Geography lessons from Ospreys #437. Retrieved on December 26. 2014
  24. ^ http://www.cms.int/sites/default/files/document/ScC14_Doc_07_Harbour_porpoise_E_0.pdf
  25. ^ a b "Morocco Footprint Handbook". Footprint Travel Guides. 2006. p. 265. Retrieved 2014-12-27. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |authors= ignored (help)
  26. ^ "Footprint Travel Guides". p. South into the Sahara. Retrieved 2013-09-16.
  27. ^ Johnson M.W.; Karamanlidis A.A.; Dendrinos P.; Larrinoa D.F.P.; Gazo M.; González M.L.; Güçlüsoy H.; Pires R.; Schnellmann M., Mediterranean Monk Seal Fact Sheet, The Monachus Guardian, retrieved 2014-12-19
  28. ^ "Sea Turtle Surveys in Southern Morocco (Plage Blanche – Porto Rico) in July 2006" (PDF). A Report to the Institut National de Recherche Halieutique, Casablanca, Kingdom of Morocco. 2006. Retrieved 2014-12-19. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |authors= ignored (help)
  29. ^ "Deserts and xeric shrublands - Atlantic coastal desert". p. WWF-World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved 2013-09-16.
  30. ^ "Wintering waders in Dakhla Bay, Western Sahara" (PDF). Wader Study Group Bull. 87: 26–29. 1998. Retrieved 2014-12-26. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |authors= ignored (help)
  31. ^ Dailey J.. 2014. UV and the Gulf of Cintra. Retrieved on December 26. 2014
  32. ^ Triptrafic1. 2012. Sur les traces de l’Aéropostale.. www.Trafic-Amenage.com. Retrieved on January 01. 2015
  33. ^ VIAJE TRANSAHARIANO ENERO 2012
  34. ^ Western Sahara (Morocco): Tan-Tan – Fort Guerguerat (pdf). Retrieved on March 28, 2017
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