The Gulf, variously called Persian or Arabian, is the most important oil exporting region and therefore likely to be affected by pollution. Oil and hydrocarbons being the most destructive of all marine pollutants, it is not surprising that the Gulf has become one of the most polluted seas in the world. The Gulf bordered by eight independent oil producing States (Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates), is titled “international oil highway” as about 60% of all the oil carried by ships from all parts of the world (more than one billion tons a year) is exported from the Gulf region.1

For the purposes of pollution control and fisheries the Persian/Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman are considered as one unit and are usually referred to as “The Gulfs”. The Persian/Arabian Gulf is about 240,000 square kilometres and is connected to oceanic waters by the U-shaped Strait of Hormuz which is in parts as narrow as 50 kilometres wide. The fresh water inflow through the Strait of Hormuz is insufficient to counterbalance the losses by evaporation. It is, therefore, very easily polluted. By contrast, the Gulf of Oman, with a direct and wide open connection with the Arabian Sea (Indian Ocean), shows characteristics of oceanic waters and hence its water masses are less sensitive to pollution.

Sources of marine pollution may be classified as land-based pollutants, oil and oily mixtures, non-petroleum pollutant substances and nuclear release.