Maersk Oil Research & Technology Centre (MO-RTC) and Qatar’s Ministry of Environment are set to explore the diversity and abundance of marine species in Qatari waters, in particular those found in the vicinity of the Al Shaheen field.A Memorandum of Understanding was signed yesterday for the new scientific research project. Dr Rashid al-Kuwari, assistant undersecretary for Environmental Affairs at the Ministry of Environment and Søren Frank, head of MO-RTC, were the signatories.Also present at the signing ceremony were Lewis Affleck, managing director of Maersk Oil Qatar and Sheikh Faisal al-Thani, deputy managing director of Maersk Oil Qatar.Under the MoU, the partners will deliver a scientifically based research programme that documents the variety and abundance of marine species, with a focus on those found in the vicinity of the Al Shaheen Field. The starting point for this programme will be whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) for which MO-RTC will collaborate with the Ministry of Environment on the Qatar Whale Shark Research Project started in 2010. Frequent observations by workers on offshore platforms have contributed to the understanding that an unusually high number of whale sharks collect in Qatari waters, particularly in and around the Al Shaheen Field. Maersk Oil has a long history of improving its environmental performance worldwide. Since 2007, the flaring from Maersk Oil’s offshore facilities has been reduced by almost 80%. This has been achieved by investing significantly in offshore facilities such as the Al Shaheen oil Field Gas Recovery and Utilisation Project in Qatar. The project is not only one of the largest Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects registered in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, it was also the first registered CDM project in Qatar.