Kuwait city: The Kuwait Dive Team's Environmental Voluntary Foundation (EVF) has successfully concluded the third phase of its national coastal cleanup initiative, "Cleaning the Southern Coasts of the Country," by eliminating plastic and iron debris from Khor Iskandar, situated in the southern region of the country. This effort marks a significant step in the ongoing mission to preserve Kuwait's marine environments.
According to Kuwait News Agency, EVF Team leader Waleed Al-Fadhel highlighted that Khor Iskandar is the fourth inlet in the Khairan area, south of Ras Al-Zour, ending in a large marina that is part of Kuwait's major marine development projects. Al-Fadhel explained that "Khairan," the plural form of "Khor," refers to dry waterways that end in bays. Southern Kuwait is home to four Khairan: Al-Awal, Al-Ammi, Muftah, and Iskandar, which hold environmental, economic, and historical significance.
These areas are valuable as habitats for marine life, tourist destinations, and former diving ports. The cleanup initiative aligns with the global "Clean Seas" campaign by the UN Environment Programme's Regional Office for West Asia, aimed at protecting seas from plastic waste and preserving marine life.
Al-Fadhel noted that the cleanup encompassed coasts such as Bnaider, Al-Zour, Khairan, and Nuwaiseeb. The waste removed from these areas poses threats to boat traffic, causes maritime accidents, and endangers navigation and marine life. He also drew attention to a UN report indicating that plastic waste results in the deaths of one million birds and a quarter of a million marine creatures, including endangered turtles, annually.
The team plans to extend its efforts to other coasts, including Judailiyat coastal marine reserve, the Jahra Nature Reserve, and the Shuwaikh and Ashirj coasts, in collaboration with the Environment Public Authority (EPA). Al-Fadhel confirmed the team's commitment to removing boats and fishing nets from coral reefs and conducting awareness campaigns on marine environment preservation.
He emphasized the importance of adhering to the Environmental Protection Law to prevent environmental violations and preserve marine habitats. Beachgoers were urged to protect rare and endangered sea turtles and to avoid discarding waste into the water. Since its founding in 1986, the Kuwait Dive Team has voluntarily undertaken these activities to serve Kuwait and its people, ensuring the protection of marine environments and safe navigation.