The Ministry of Municipality and Environment and the North Oil Company have signed a Memorandum of Understanding aiming at studying the adequate conservation and sustainable use of whale shark species and to increase co-operation and exchange of experience on the protection of these species in the country.
The MoU was signed for the Ministry by Director of Protection and Wildlife Department Omar Salem al-Nuaimi, and for the North Oil Company by Vice-Executive President for Health, Safety and Environment Pascal Meyer.
Speaking at a press conference on the occasion, al-Nuaimi said that the MoU aims at exchanging expertise to study a whale shark conservation project, strengthening co-operation between the two sides in protecting the rich coastal and marine diversity of the territorial waters of Qatar, and enhancing scientific and technical cooperation in the protection of marine life.
Al-Nuaimi underlined the importance of signing this significant agreement with the North Oil Company, stressing the keenness of the Ministry on cooperation and joining efforts between institutions and other bodies, especially between the private and public sectors in the State.
For his part, Meyer welcomed the signing of the MoU which aims to preserve the coastal and marine diversity in the territorial waters of Qatar and to promote scientific and technical co-operation in these areas.
The MoU also covers the implementation of a joint research project for the different types of whale sharks and coral reefs in the territorial waters of Qatar, under the conditions that the two sides are seeking to develop and agree upon, and the Ministry's priorities in terms of conservation and management of whale sharks within the North Oil Company concession in Qatar.
The whale shark is one of the largest fish in the world and one of the endangered species. Nearly 400 whale sharks have been monitored in Al Shaheen Oil Field in Qatar.
The North Oil Company ensures that Al Shaheen Field continues to host the whale shark at one of its largest gathering locations in the world.
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