Investigating the environmental status of coastal waters in Hormozgan province

The present study is aimed to investigate the coastal environment of Hormozgan province. The contaminating sources of coastal cities of Hormozgan have been investigated and the effects of unbalanced development on coastal areas have been analyzed. We do not just use beaches as a place of residence, but also for commercial activities such as minerals extraction, waste disposal, such as sewage and industrial waste, fishing, and tourism. High population over industrial and human activities damage natural ecosystems in some coastal areas. According to the report of the Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine Environment, more than 50% of the sources of pollutants in the marine environment have a drought origin, mainly from the discharge of urban, industrial, and agricultural sewage. The most important factors affecting the coastal waters are the high amount of nitrogen and phosphorus, which come into the water with contaminants. These pollutants are mainly from human activities, which include inputs from agriculture, industry, and vehicles. Nitrogen and phosphorus are the most important nitrates and are considered as water pollutants. The presence of these materials in the granules and germs is essential for completing the natural food chain, but when the amount of nitrites is too high, the problems increase. Red tide, eutrophication, and the creation of coastal areas are impacts of urban drainage discharges into the sea. However, in the urban planning system, the establishment of industries in the vicinity of cities is not recommended, but the lack of coastal development plans has caused the coasts of Hormozgan province and the city of Bandar Abbas, and Qeshm Island affected by the discharge of industrial waste water and facility in the coastline. The results indicate that the trophic level index (water pollution index) of the coastal waters in the province has increased significantly; therefore, the city of Bandar Abbas has the worst situation among the coastal cities and the continuation of this can has undesirable effects on the production of aquatic animals, especially species that are ecologically dependent on the coastline and the life quality of the inhabitants in the cities.

Keywords:

Coastal waters , Environmental status , Eutrophication , Urban sewage , Industrial wastewater