Reem AlMealla
Who I am
I come from a tiny island nation (the third smallest in Asia) called Bahrain, which is situated in the hottest sea on the planet and is an archipelago made up of 33 natural islands. Growing up, I spent my days running up and down the shore, always drawn to the sea. My connection with the ocean led me to pursue an undergraduate degree in marine biology at the University of Essex. While there, I had the opportunity to volunteer as a research assistant in South Africa, where I learned to dive in Sodwana Bay. It was there that I saw my first coral reef and encountered the fascinating underwater world and my first reef shark and ray. I left with a heart filled with commitment and passion to protect these magnificent creatures and their homes.
After my undergraduate journey I continued my studies, gaining an MSc in ecology, evolution and conservation before returning to Bahrain. I was keen to create positive change starting in my own country, which has made me the first woman field marine biologist. Ever since my return, I have been dedicated to safeguarding the oceans and the biodiversity they support, in addition to enabling and empowering young people to enter the environmental field. Over the past 14 years, I’ve worked on generating ecological data through research, and translating science into actionable policies. By collaborating with government entities and working with local communities, I strive to drive evidence-based decisions that address climate change and better protect our ecosystems and the species that inhabit them. Last year, I founded Nuwat, a research and conservation organisation based in Bahrain, in order to create a hub that enables ecological researchers and conservation scientists to come together and generate the required data to support the country on its environmental and conservation journey.
Where I work
My work focuses on Bahraini waters, which lie in the Arabian Gulf, the hottest sea on the planet. Many people regard our region as a natural laboratory, as it provides a window into what the future of climate change in tropical regions might look like. Despite the extreme temperatures, the region hosts incredible biodiversity, including the largest aggregation of dugongs and the largest concentration of whale sharks in the world. Unfortunately, the Arabian Gulf is one of the main suppliers for the shark-fin market and some of its nations have been ranked among the world’s top 20 shark-catching countries for more than a decade. Although regional studies have recorded the presence of critically endangered great hammerheads, halavi guitarfish and green sawfish in the area, not much is known about shark populations that are specific to Bahrain. My team and I are working to provide decision-makers with the required data on the seasonality and distribution of sharks in Bahrain by utilising eDNA technology to detect sharks and thus help drive a national conservation policy for shark protection and conservation.
What I do
The work my team and I do includes a combination of traditional methods, such as fish market surveys, alongside modern technologies like utilising eDNA and deploying BRUV (baited remote underwater video) systems at selected sites around Bahrain. We use these approaches to detect elasmobranch communities, determine their composition, distribution and seasonality, and investigate whether certain sites may serve as nursery areas. Three times a week, you’ll find us at the local fish markets, while for the rest of the week we are either out at sea deploying our cameras and collecting samples or we’re analysing our videos.
We have also launched a regional citizen science project called Tadween, which enables citizens to report sightings of sharks and rays. This not only supports our research, but also empowers communities to be part of the solution. Our project brings together a wide range of stakeholders, including local communities, fishermen, governmental entities and researchers. As part of a broader initiative, it serves as a platform that unites the country as we build the core infrastructure and provide capacity building for shark conservation – an important first for marine research in Bahrain.