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Old Doha Port capped off Tuesday the third Seabed Cleaning Initiative, underscoring its steadfast commitment to safeguarding the marine environment and amplifying community awareness of sustainable practices. In a statement, the Port highlighted that since its inception in 2023, the initiative has emerged as a core environmental pillar, strategically reinforcing the national agenda's priorities on sustainable development and the preservation of Qatar's ecological resources.This year's initiative witnessed integrated collaboration between certified divers, governmental functionaries, and private-sector partners, within a coordinated operation extending across the entire waterfront of the Port, the statement read.It further pointed out that divers successfully operated to remove accumulated waste from the deep water reaching 6 meters, which included plastic materials, fishing lines, nets, and heavy debris that pose a threat to marine life and navigation safety, noting that the intervention areas were identified based on precise seabed surveys conducted prior to the operation.The initiative has received substantial backing from partners, with the Ministry of Municipality providing operational mechanisms and support, while the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change conducted environmental oversight and provided essential technical guidelines, the statement continued.The statement clarified that ExxonMobil Qatar also undertook the role of strategic contributor, while Tanzifco carried out onsite waste sorting operations and ensured that recyclable materials were directed to the competent authorities, with the Qatari Coast Guard ensuring the safety of divers throughout the seabed cleaning operation.It remarked that the Arab Center for Engineering Studies (ACES) organized workshops and interactive activities for children on sustainability to contribute to strengthening awareness about the importance of protecting the environment. Other key participants included Environmental and Green Energy Services, Athar Alfardan, Alfardan Marine Services, Hai Wash, and Mr. Valet.As such, CEO of the Old Doha Port, Eng Mohamed Abdullah al-Mulla, asserted that this initiative is a testament to the Port's responsibility toward the coastal environment in the State of Qatar, emphasizing that the nation's marine environment constitutes a time-honored part of its national identity and preserving it is a duty on the part of all.This initiative has become an annual landmark with concrete positive impact that corrals the community's enterprises and individuals toward one goal, as long as holding each one of these initiatives reinforces the collective responsibility in safeguarding the nation's natural resources for the generations to come, Al Mulla stressed.Vice President and Manager of Public and Government Affairs at ExxonMobil Qatar, Rashid al-Hajri, underlined that collaboration with the Port in this initiative underscores an all-hands-on-deck approach in protecting the environment and marine life, as well as promoting sustainability for the next generations.Noteworthy, the initiative comes in alignment with the environmental development pillar within Qatar National Vision 2030, which includes a pro-environment appeal for the protection of natural resources and environmental equilibrium, in addition to bolstering environmental governance and societal partnership.Since its launch in 2023, the Initiative has been incrementally expanded, emerging today as one of the Port's core pillars in the long-term sustainability agenda amid plans to enlarge its scope and broaden the engagement of the community members in the years ahead. 

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change's Environmental Monitoring and Inspection Department, in cooperation with the Marine Protection Department, have carried out 56 field visits since the beginning of this year, as part of the monthly marine environment monitoring programme.During this period, 2,240 variables were documented. The programme covers seven marine sites to monitor physical, chemical, and biological variables, which are regularly observed throughout the year. The aim is to track environmental changes in marine waters and provide accurate and periodic scientific data that help assess the status, in addition to monitoring biological indicators that reflect the health and sustainability of marine ecosystems.The ministry affirmed that the programme serves as a fundamental tool to support the country’s efforts in protecting marine resources and preserving biodiversity, in addition to enhancing research studies that assist in developing policies and strategic plans to address environmental challenges.

The marine Protection Department at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has been making several achievements to maintain the well-being of the local marine environment and ecosystems and protect the biodiversity in the country.During the second quarter of this year, the department spent 20 hours in tours in deep sea diving across various key locations in the local waters. It also spent 68 hours in various surprise inspection tours within the sea, besides 3,361 hours spent on daily field inspection tours.The department spent a total of 3,404 hours during the second quarter of the year carrying out various intensive and regular inspection and monitoring tours across various sites in the local waters.The department spotted 148 different violations during the same period, in addition to 25 violations regarding fishing cages, 11 violations for using long fishing lines, two regarding fishing tools, 86 fishing nets, and six violations for using non-standard spotlights and illegal lights. There were a total of 278 related violations spotted during the period.Further, the department conducted five study surveys on related issues, issued 829 reports through the various marine units it has, with a total of 834 reports made during the period.The department received 36 calls and requests that included 17 regarding encroachments and violations, 11 reports, five applications for services, and three inquiries.The department also took part at 14 different public workshops and campaigns to raise public awareness in different related topics. These included three training workshops, four cleaning campaigns, three inspection campaigns and four work meetings.