KUWAIT CITY, April 23: The Kuwait Diving Team, affiliated with the Environmental Voluntary Foundation (EVF), has successfully concluded the first phase of its coastal cleanup initiative along the Ushairij coast. During this phase, the team removed eight tons of plastic waste, discarded fishing nets, wood, iron debris, barrels, and tires—materials that pose significant environmental and navigational hazards.​

Team leader Waleed Al-Fadhel explained that this effort is part of the activities commemorating International Mother Earth Day, observed annually on April 22. He emphasized that Ushairij is a vital environmental area in southern Kuwait Bay, serving as a habitat for wildlife and a crucial stopover for migratory birds traveling from North Asia to Africa. The area also hosts the Umm Al-Naml Island Nature Reserve and holds historical significance for Kuwait.​

Al-Fadhel noted that the cleanup efforts are expected to continue for several days due to the substantial amount of waste present, requiring coordinated efforts for this comprehensive environmental operation. He highlighted that the team's projects focused on waste removal from Kuwaiti beaches are progressing successfully.​

This initiative aligns with the team's objectives since its establishment in 1986 and supports the global "Clean Seas" campaign launched by the United Nations Environment Programme's Regional Office for West Asia. The campaign aims to protect seas from plastic and other waste and safeguard marine life. The team is preparing to submit its periodic report to the office, headquartered in Beirut.​

Al-Fadhel mentioned that the team responds promptly to reports and coordinates directly with relevant government agencies and volunteers to complete the work. Over the past four months, several projects have been completed to remove waste from Kuwaiti coasts, including areas such as East Al-Judayliyyat, Sulaibikhat, Kuwait Towers, Al-Salam, Nuwaiseeb, Al-Zour, Bnaider, and Khiran.​

He urged beachgoers and the community to contribute to preserving the marine environment, as it is a source of livelihood, and to protect its coasts as tourist destinations while maintaining ecological balance. Al-Fadhel stressed the need for increased environmental monitoring by authorities to deter violators.​

He expressed gratitude to government agencies assisting in this voluntary and environmental work, notably the Environment Public Authority, the General Directorate of Coast Guard, the Kuwait Ports Authority, Kuwait Municipality, and the Public Authority for Agriculture and Fish Resources, in addition to private sector institutions and volunteers.​

Al-Fadhel also acknowledged the government's efforts and pioneering environmental initiatives to protect the Ashirj and Kuwait Bay areas. These include removing the fishing village and Ashirj port, limiting industrial activity, and halting overfishing in Kuwait Bay, resulting in the recovery of the coastal environment and the smooth movement of water currents and beach sand.​

The Kuwait Diving Team continues to play a pivotal role in marine conservation, demonstrating a steadfast commitment to preserving Kuwait's coastal and marine ecosystems through proactive cleanup efforts and community engagement.​