Minister of Environment and Climate Change: Great Efforts Contributed to Biodiversity Richness in Qatari Territorial Waters

Doha: HE Minister of Environment and Climate Change Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie stated that the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change's great efforts during the past years have contributed to the richness of biodiversity in the Qatari territorial waters, making them a destination for the rarest marine animals in the world, such as dugongs and whale sharks, largely concentrated in the Al Shaheen Field area. In a speech today at the marine wildlife forum, His Excellency indicated that the Ministry is operating according to a vision and strategy with several axes to ensure the preservation and protection of the marine environment and work towards its sustainability, reviewing the measures and efforts taken by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change to protect the marine environment during the past period. He added that the Ministry's measures included issuing legislation and laws that set strict controls for overfishing operations as well as campaigns carried out by the Ministry to monitor the country's territorial waters to prevent overfishing during fish breeding seasons, in addition to inspecting equipment and tools of seafarers and fishermen that do not conform to specifications, and this is done in cooperation with the relevant state agencies. He explained that the marine environment is considered an integral part of the conscience of the Qatari people, which made Qatar among the first countries to issue regulations and laws that protect its marine environment through the establishment of the Supreme Council for the Environment and Natural Reserves in the mid-seventies of the last century. His Excellency pointed to the Ministry's efforts to enrich and develop the marine environment, noting that the State of Qatar has allocated 2.5% of its total area to be marine reserves, in addition to completing the national action plan to preserve marine resources and preparing maps of coastal areas and benthic habitats. These efforts come as a practical application of Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Third National Development Strategy 2024-2030, he added. The marine wildlife forum, which was held today, discussed the efforts of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change in preserving and protecting the marine environment and preventing overfishing operations in Qatari territorial waters through conducting patrols and monitoring operations in addition to reviewing national decisions and legislation to protect fish wealth in Qatari waters. The forum's participants also reviewed the negative effects of overfishing operations, including the depletion of fish wealth, the loss of biodiversity, and the damage to marine habitats and coral reefs, resulting from the use of environmentally unfriendly fishing tools. Chairman of the forum Dr. Mohammed Saif Al Kuwari stressed the importance of continuing to protect the marine environment in Qatar, which is witnessing distinct richness as a result of the efforts of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change in implementing many environmental pro grams and initiatives that contributed to the sustainability of the marine environment and increased its biodiversity. He pointed out that the seas and oceans are exposed to the danger of overfishing, about which the United Nations and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have warned, which they explained that these activities are responsible for the loss of 11-26 million tons of fish each year. Al Kuwari stressed the importance of increasing awareness and education within the local community to highlight the negative effects of overfishing activities on marine wildlife, with the aim of preserving and sustaining fish resources. He noted the danger of using traditional fishing tools, which cause negative effects on marine wildlife, such as destroying the seabed, depleting fish stocks, and causing long-term damage to marine habitats. Al Kuwari said the forum aims to enhance marine life in Qatar and provides sustainable solutions and practical recommendations to contribute to pro tecting wildlife in Qatar, pointing out the importance of raising awareness among fishermen as well as the need to avoid practicing any negative activities or actions that would harm marine life and prohibiting the practice of overfishing and other wrong practices that harm the marine environment in the country. The forum held a panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Mohammed bin Saif Al Kuwari, an environmental expert and engineering consultant in the office of HE the Minister of Environment and Climate Change. The panelists were Mohammed Mahmoud Al Abdullah, head of the fish farming section at the Ministry of Municipality, Yousef Al Hamar, an environmental consultant, Mohammed Yousef Al Jaidah, an environmental activist, Mohammed Saeed Al Mohannadi, an environmental activist, and Jassim Ahmed Al Lingawi, the representative of fishermen. Source: Qatar News Agency