Why Qatar Should Invest in an Aquarium?

Qatar NEEDS to invest in an aquarium. It boggles my mind how Qatar still has not got on this yet. As a marine biology enthusiast, it’s glaringly obvious that this is something that would benefit Qatar and its citizens in the long run if done right.

(Note that by “aquarium,” I don’t just mean a place to show off sea life to the public, but a center that promotes conservation and scholarship in marine biology. These days, every upscale aquarium serves those purposes beyond just being a fish exhibit.)

Here are some reasons why I think Qatar should build an aquarium:

~?The ocean is part of Qatar’s culture and history. Qatar was a maritime center for the fish and pearl trade in the past. There are also so many Qatari folktales centered around the ocean. Notably, there’s the Bu Draeyah, a half man and half sea creature, who terrorizes fishermen and pearl divers. Imagine an aquarium experience with this folktale! It would be a great way to promote this part of Qatar’s culture.

~ Since outdoor activities are seasonal in Qatar because of the weather, an indoor aquarium would be?a source of much-needed indoor leisure in Qatar?besides malls. The money, they spent on Vendome Mall could have easily gone into creating an amazing aquarium.

~ It’s a great way to?diversify Qatar’s economy, since having a world-class aquarium will encourage tourism and also promote marine biology as a field of study in Qatar.

~?Promoting Qatar as a center for the study of marine biology?could be huge for some of the universities and research centers here in Qatar. I know that?Qatar University?is working on a database of coral reefs and even has projects to create artificial coral reefs; it’s a field ripe for the taking. Also, there’s a lot of the coral reefs around Qatar remain UNDISCOVERED, so there is so much scholarly potential there.

~ Most importantly,?Qatar is surrounded by wondrous marine life, rivaling that of the world, which makes it a prime location for a world-class aquarium.

• Qatar’s waters have the?largest aggregation of whale sharks in the world.
• Qatar’s mangrove ecosystem is also?a world wonder, home to rare marine plants and animals that would be perfect to exhibit in an aquarium.
• Qatar has one of the?largest populations of hawksbill sea turtles, a critically endangered species necessary for the maintenance of coral reefs.
• Qatar waters are also home to the?world’s second-largest population of dugongs, a rare and little-known sea mammal that is close to extinction.
• In Qatar waters, you see a?huge selection of amazing sea animals?like juvenile blue angel fish, Arabian angelfish, lionfish, and even dolphins.

~ Qatar also has thriving, biodiverse coral reefs since they have adapted to high temperatures, making them unique in that they are?more adaptable to harsh conditions. This has a lot of implications for the coral reefs in the rest of the world since coral reefs are dying due to rising temperatures and global warming, so?Qatar’s coral reefs can serve as a case study for how to maintain reefs in higher temperatures. It’s a place where we can make great strides in the global dialogue around marine conservation! That is such an important and timely global cause that Qatar could really champion!

To me, an aquarium just seems like the perfect project for Qatar in every way. It has rich, unique, biodiverse, and little-known marine ecosystems, and is positioned in a perfect geographical location for the study of marine life. It is also a perfect ode to Qatar’s history and will push Qatar as a world player in oceanography, aquaculture, and marine conservation.

I wish someone with the power to pull this off can submit a proposal and get this project underway. It might be silly, but posting here is my feeble attempt at setting off a spark in someone with that kind of influence.

Credit: u/nuestl - Reddit