KUWAIT CITY, Nov 23:  The Kuwait Environment Protection Society (KEPS) organized a beach cleanup campaign at the Kuwait Towers Beach Park on Saturday, in partnership with the Japanese Embassy, the Japanese Society in Kuwait, the Environment Public Authority (EPA), and the Scientific Center. The initiative was part of the "Operation Turtles" campaign and saw wide participation from school students, government agencies, and volunteers.

KEPS Secretary General Jenan Behzad stated that the campaign aims to promote environmental awareness and the correct environmental practices across all segments of society, emphasizing that protecting the environment is a collective societal responsibility. She added that the campaign attracted about 1,000 volunteers.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of KEPS, which was established in 1974, while the "Operation Turtles" campaign celebrates its 25th anniversary. Over the years, more than 10,000 participants have joined the campaign, including over 3,000 students from KEPS' Green Schools Program, alongside hundreds of organizations, groups, and individuals.

Behzad highlighted Kuwait's efforts to protect sea turtles from extinction. She noted that turtles were released onto the beach and then into the Arabian Gulf waters. The challenges faced by turtles include plastic pollution, urban expansion, ghost fishing, and human activities that hinder their presence and reproduction.

She emphasized the critical role sea turtles play in maintaining the marine ecosystem, such as controlling the growth of seaweeds, preserving coral reefs, and contributing to marine biodiversity in Kuwait.

Dr. Abdullah Al-Zaidan, Deputy Director General of the Environment Public Authority, praised the Japanese Embassy and the Japanese Society in Kuwait for their ongoing efforts to organize the annual beach cleanup campaign. He stressed the importance of involving government institutions and the community to raise environmental awareness and protect natural resources. He also underscored the role of collaboration in developing sustainable solutions to address the effects of global climate change and protect marine biodiversity in Kuwait.

Dr. Al-Zaidan noted that this initiative aligns with Kuwait's Sustainable Development Plan and international commitments to environmental conservation and biodiversity protection.

Kaneko Koji, Chargé d'Affaires at the Embassy of Japan in Kuwait, expressed his gratitude to the participants in the 25th edition of the Operation Turtles campaign. He highlighted how participation has grown since the campaign's inception in 2000, thanks to increased environmental awareness. He also thanked the Scientific Center for their role in releasing rehabilitated turtles back into the wild.

Sarah Al-Yaqout, Director of Marketing and Communications at the Scientific Center, shared that several sea turtles were released after being rescued and rehabilitated. She noted that Kuwait’s waters are home to several species of endangered turtles, with the green turtle being the most common. Last year, the center installed tracking devices on the turtles to monitor their migration patterns, revealing that some migrate south in winter and return in summer, while others stay away for over a year.