The Ministry of Environment detected 550 violations in 2014, said Omar Salim al-Niaimi, director at the Department of Environment Protection, local daily Al-Sharq reported.
He said that patrols on land and sea in 2014 detected many violations including camel grazing, throwing waste in unauthorised areas, excavation of land, discharge of sewage water on the land, cutting down trees and illegal transport of dangerous materials such as diesel or petrol.
Al-Niaimi remarked that marine violations included excessive fishing, damage to the coral reef and excavation of the beach sand with heavy equipment.
According to the official, the department patrols work round the clock in all parts of the country to ensure implementation of the laws and protection of the land and sea environment.
