Kuwait diving team ‘lifts’ six tons of discarded fishing nets: official
KUWAIT CITY, Oct 21, (KUNA): The diving team of the Kuwaiti Environmental Voluntary Foundation managed to lift several discarded fishing nets south of Kuwait’s Creek weighing six tons and posing dangers to boats, ships and port activity as well as devastating marine life.
The team Chief Waleed Al-Fadhel stated to KUNA, Thursday, that the team pulled 20 nets in five days. The nets were abandoned in navigation routes and were endangering ships in the Kuwaiti Creek, which is considered a habitat for different species of fish.
Al-Fadhel added that the operation was completed with the assistance of Kuwait Ports Authority, Environment Public Authority and Public Authority of Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources, where boats were prepared to lift these hefty nets weighed-down with dead fishes and sea animals.
He detailed that some of these nets were discarded in relatively deep spots, as deep as 13 meters down, or as shallow as two meters, adding that the team relies on sea tides, weather conditions and sea wave heights to lift the discarded fishing nets.
Al-Fadhel thanked supporting agencies for their significant efforts, highlight the role of Kuwait Ports Authority, Environment Public Authority and Kuwait Boursa, indicating that these efforts come within the framework of global environmental campaign dubbed “Clean Seas”, with UN Environment Programme’s Regional Office for West Asia.
He confirmed that the diving team’s projects are ongoing, and include Kuwait’s sea from the north all the way to the south. The projects include monitoring coral reefs, beach cleaning campaigns and collaborating with civil society organizations, which resumed work due to high temperatures subsiding and lifting of the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions.
Al-Fadhel commended efforts of concerned agencies and citizens taking initiative and reporting discarded nets. He stressed that boat owners should report to coast guard, sea rescue centers, or Kuwait diving team any discarded items so that they could be lifted and their adverse effects limited.
He affirmed necessity of imposing sanctions on violating fishers and seagoers especially in Kuwait’s Creek to protect its marine life and preserve its coasts.