The activities included the cleaning of the beach and in-depth waters of the site in addition to releasing baby turtles into the sea. The other participants at the event included Ministry of Environment and Climate Change's (MoECC) Protection and Natural Protectorates Affairs assistant undersecretary Dr Ibrahim Abdulatif al-Muslimani, Wildlife Development Department director Mohamed Ahmed al-Khanji, Department of Wildlife head Ali Saleh al-Marri, senior environment specialist (co-ordinator of the Sea Turtle Protection Project) Dr Mohamed AlSayyid Ahmed and a number of volunteers from various organisations.
HE the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Sheikh Dr Faleh bin Nasser al-Thani with other officials and volunteers during the event
HE Dr Faleh stressed the importance of the event on the occasion of the World Ocean Day and the start of the hatching season of the Hawksbill turtles. He pointed out that it comes as part of the keenness of the ministry to engage the public in the efforts exerted to maintain the environment, including the project to protect the endangered Hawksbill turtles. He further stressed the need for spreading awareness and knowledge about the importance of maintaining biodiversity in Qatar and exerting all such efforts, especially regarding the protection of the endangered species.
The minister pointed out that the turtles project has succeeded in allocating safe habitats for nesting and incubation of the eggs, which contributes towards enriching the marine environment in the country. He said that the ministry has been keen to work on this project since 2003 and ministerial decision no 37 for 2010 was issued to preserve the endangered marine birds and turtles. He also said that the work team concerned at the ministry has released more than 35,000 baby turtles over the past five years.
Further, he pointed out that this season was highly successful as 98 nests were transferred to the protected site at Fuwairit Beach, and the hatching season started after two months from putting the first nest at this site. Accordingly, he expressed his appreciation for the procedures taken by the Ministry to protect the endangered species and the high rates of survival of the baby turtles released into the sea.
The participants at this event included volunteers from Qatar Red Crescent Society, The Friends of Environment Centre, Seashore Recycling and Sustainability Centre and other entities and diving groups.
At the conclusion of the cleaning processes, the field tour and the release of baby turtles, HE the Minister honoured the participating entities and thanked them for their efforts to make the project a success.