The huge real estate project in Dubai are damaging the habitat for Gulf marine life.
The new land masses have buried coral reefs, oyster beds and sea grasses that nurtured fish and sea turtles. One of the archipelagoes, the Palm Jebel Ali, lies in an area once protected as a marine wildlife zone.
Nakheel acknowledged its projects have covered reefs and altered the environment, and said it is trying to counteract some of the damage. Once work is finished, sea life will thrive on the islands' artificial reefs, said Imad Haffar, Nakheel's research and development manager.
