Jaber Reserve thriving with marine life

KUWAIT CITY, May 18 : The Kuwait Dive Team, affiliated with the Environmental Voluntary Foundation, announced the observation of extensive and dense growth of coral and sponges, along with the settlement of thousands of organisms including shellfish, oysters, echinoderms, algae, and numerous fish species in the artificial coral reef colonies of the Jaber Al-Kuwait Marine Reserve in southern Kuwait. Mahmoud Ashkanani, the team’s environmental projects manager, told KUNA on Monday that the Jaber Al-Kuwait Marine Reserve is part of the team’s “Artificial Marine Reserves” project, the culmination of over 30 years of volunteer work in the field of coral reef conservation and development in Kuwait.

Ashkanani added that the project has achieved significant success by creating an environment similar to natural coral reef habitats, characterized by a high density and diversity of organisms, as well as a wide variety of colors. He stated that this major environmental project began in 1996 with the installation of solid concrete blocks (breakwaters), which have since diversified in shape and size, reaching heights of up to three meters and depths of 7 to 17 meters, distributed across 20 locations. Ashkanani commended the Environment Public Authority (EPA) for its support, as well as the Kuwait Oil Company (KOC), Mina Al-Ahmadi Port, and the Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) for their contributions to this significant environmental project. He urged beachgoers and chalet visitors to preserve these protected areas and their endemic biodiversity by refraining from discarding fishing traps and nets around them, and to report any violations or encroachments on coral reef sites to the relevant authorities.(KUNA)