Spatiotemporal Analysis on Shipwrecks in Shatt Al-Arab River and Iraqi Marine Waters Northwest Arabian Gulf

The shipwrecks generate different impacts mostly represented by geomorphological changes of the waterways, source of potential pollutants, impeding navigation and fishing activities. A total of 141 locations of shipwrecks were identified in the inland and marine Iraqi territorial waters. The study area is categorized into four sites including Shatt Al-Arab River, Shatt Al-Arab Estuary, Khor Abdulla and Khor Al-Zubair. The shipwrecks data analysis was investigated on spatial and temporal approach based on salvage state, type and size of sinking vessels in these sites. The shipwrecks are of different types classified according to the size into three categories. Only 43 of these shipwrecks were salvaged mostly in Khor Al-Zubair, however, no attempt has been carried out to salvage any of the shipwrecks in the most important fishing ground located within Shatt Al-Arab Estuary. On temporal basis, most of the shipwrecks are resulted due to the wars. The majority of the sunken shipwrecks are of small size indicated by 94 (67%), however many are still not identified by type and size particularly those located in the Shatt Al-Arab Estuary. The impacts of the shipwrecks were investigated following to findings of previous related studies and feedback of questionnaire circulated to specialists in relevant authorities. Moreover, the findings of relevant published data in relation to hydrological features, water quality, fishing and biodiversity aspects have considered particularly in the shared zone among Iraq, Kuwait and Iran. The paper recommended the great importance to initiate a regional survey to assess the levels and types of pollutants in this area and to take a cooperation action on removing the sunken vessels.