Over 1,490 kilograms of marine debris and rubbish was collected by 50 Abu Dhabi divers and divers from other emirates on Saturday.
The waste removed included plastic bottles, aluminium cans, food wrapper containers, abandoned fishing lines and construction materials.
The underwater clean-up campaign called Together We Make The Difference is the second diving clean-up activity organized by the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi in partnership with the Emirates Diving Association and the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club.
The campaign took place off the capital's Corniche, and aimed to raise awareness about the country’s natural environment and the importance of keeping the seas clean of waste.
Dr Sheikha Salem Al Dhaheri, executive director of the Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity department said the clean-up campaign helped clear waste that otherwise would have detrimental effects on UAE marine life, potentially harming the fragile biodiversity, affecting swimmers and fishermen’s livelihoods.
“There is an imminent need for us to keep beaches and diving sites clear of debris. The sensitive waters, species and underwater inhabitants must be looked after for future generations and for the sake of conserving our natural habitats,” said Dr Al Dhaheri.
“Organising clean-up campaigns is just one of many initiatives we are taking to allow for our seas and landscapes to be a safe-haven for different species.”
Dr Al Dhaheri also said that toxic materials, plastics and waste can not only inhibit normal growth and reproduction, but also have fatal effects on marine species and the ecosystems they live off.
