ShareKUWAIT: The Kuwaiti Diving Team, affiliated with the Voluntary Environmental Foundation, successfully removed three tons of abandoned fishing nets from the southern waters of Kuwait in Bnaider and rescued several stranded marine creatures, including a rare hawksbill turtle. The turtle was subsequently handed over to the Scientific Center for necessary care and rehabilitation.
Team leader Waleed Al-Fadhel told KUNA on Tuesday that the diving team received a report about the drifting nets, which were located approximately three kilometers off the coast of Bnaider. Given the imminent danger they posed to marine life and navigation, the team swiftly mobilized to extract them. Al-Fadhel explained that the operation was particularly challenging due to the large size of the nets, which required several hours to lift. He emphasized that this effort is part of the team’s broader initiative to clean Kuwait’s southern coastline of hazardous waste, ensuring the protection of the marine environment and maintaining the safety of the sea.
He urged seafarers to play an active role in safeguarding sea turtles, particularly as they are both rare and endangered. He warned against the disposal of waste into the sea, noting that entanglement in fishing nets often leads to suffocation and death for turtles. Additionally, he highlighted the dangers posed by transparent plastic bags floating in the water, which turtles frequently mistake for jellyfish—one of their primary food sources—leading to fatal starvation.
Al-Fadhel noted that turtle nesting sites in Kuwait have significantly declined, with Qaruh Island, located southeast of Kuwaiti waters, remaining one of the few known nesting grounds. Researchers continue to monitor nesting activities on the island, though turtles are widely spotted across Kuwaiti waters by divers and seafarers. He further explained that among the seven known species of sea turtles worldwide, only two—the hawksbill turtle and the green turtle—inhabit Kuwaiti waters. These species can reach up to two meters in length and weigh as much as 900 kilograms.
Since its establishment in 1986, the Kuwaiti Diving Team has undertaken numerous initiatives to protect and rescue sea turtles. These include complex marine operations to free turtles trapped in fishing nets and industrial cooling station basins. The team has also launched extensive awareness campaigns targeting school students and the broader community, utilizing social media, publications, films, and interactive workshops to promote marine conservation.
Al-Fadhel added that the team participated in an integrated environmental program on Heron Island in Australia, where they were introduced to advanced conservation strategies for protecting turtle nests near the Great Barrier Reef. He expressed his appreciation for the efforts of governmental, scientific, and environmental institutions in Kuwait for their commitment to monitoring sea turtles locally and regionally. These efforts include satellite tracking programs and participation in international agreements and treaties aimed at turtle conservation.- KUNA
