ShareKUWAIT: The Kuwait Environment Protection Society (KEPS), in collaboration with the Environment Public Authority (EPA), the Japanese Embassy, the Japanese Association in Kuwait and The Scientific Center hosted the annual beach cleanup campaign titled “Operation Turtle” near Kuwait Towers on Saturday. The campaign celebrated its silver jubilee, with over 1,000 volunteers participating. The event featured the release of turtles into the Arabian Gulf.
The event was held to restore Kuwait’s coastal environment and raise public awareness about environmental conservation. The campaign drew widespread participation from school students, government entities and numerous volunteer organizations. The event extended an open invitation to the public to participate in cleaning the beach to deliver the campaign’s message of environmental awareness and community collaboration in achieving long-term environmental sustainability.
During the event, KEPS Secretary-General Jenan Behzad highlighted the initiative’s role in promoting environmental awareness and responsibility among citizens and residents. She emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts in preserving Kuwait’s coastal biodiversity, noting the event’s symbolic message of unity in protecting marine ecosystems. This year also marks KEPS’ golden jubilee, celebrating 50 years since its founding in 1974. Over 10,000 individuals and 3,000 students from KEPS’ Green Schools Program have participated in the initiative since its inception.
Behzad addressed the challenges faced by sea turtles in Kuwait, including plastic pollution, urban expansion, and ghost fishing, which threaten their habitats. She underscored their ecological importance, such as maintaining seagrass balance to support coral reefs. “Kuwait continues its commitment to protecting sea turtles through awareness campaigns, cleanup drives, and creating protected areas to ensure the sustainability of marine life,” she said.
EPA Deputy Director General Dr Abdullah Al-Zaidan lauded Japanese Embassy and Society’s efforts in organizing their annual campaign to spread awareness on this matter. Zaidan affirmed keenness of EPA on this activity along with the Japanese Embassy and other institutions. Individual, institutional and societal cooperation contributes to offering the best solutions for sustainable environment in light of global climate changes, he noted.
Charge d’Affaires at the Japanese Embassy in Kuwait Kaneko Koji said the campaign seeks to preserve environment and cleanness. He referred to the increasing number of participants in the event, thanking The Scientific Center for its role in this matter.
Director of Marketing and Communications at The Scientific Center Sarah Al-Yaqout said a number of sea turtles were released after being rescued and rehabilitated to their natural habitats, pointing out Kuwaiti waters contain several types of turtles, all of which are protected by law and are considered endangered, the most common species being the green turtle. Yaqout explained the center last year installed tracking devices on turtles to understand their behavior and migration patterns.
