RAK bans plastic bags among seagoers to protect marine life

ras al khaimah — Sea goers and fishermen in Ras Al Khaimah have been instructed to stop using plastic bags while at sea.

The move was taken by the Environmental Protection and Development Authority in Ras Al Khaimah in line with the country’s effort to protect the marine environment and ensure the sustainability of natural resources. The initiative to make RAK beaches plastic free will be done by strictly monitoring the areas by staff inspectors, according to a top official.

Dr Saif Al Ghais, director-general of the authority, said plastic wastes have been blamed for the pollution of marine environment and mortality of marine life. “Plastic wastes, which are neither biodegradable nor disintegrating,

Plastic wastes, which are neither biodegradable nor disintegrating, affect the turtles and hurt the fish that feed on them and on human food.” Dr Saif Al Ghais, director-general, Environmental Protection and Development Authority, RAK

affect the turtles and hurt the fish that feed on them and on human food.”

The public should be enlightened about the negative impact of plastic bags, he underlined. “These should be disposed of in a responsible way or replaced with healthier and safer alternatives, like paper or cloth bags.”

The authority has also had agreements with the main shopping centres in the emirate to stop using plastic bags. “We have provided eco-friendly bags to consumers in order to raise public awareness about the grave risks of using plastic bags, and start urging environmentally friendly alternatives.”

Dr Al Ghais said they are monitoring all fishing ports and fish offloading areas to ensure compliance with the plastic bags ban. “These are mostly used by fishermen to fill with bread that is used in fishing.”

The authority is geared up to prevent the use of plastic bags and develop public awareness on the same, he pointed out.

“We are doing our best to prevent the use of difficult-to-decompose plastic bags at all desert, sea and mountainous areas as they proved to be one of the main reasons behind the deterioration of the ecosystem.”