KUWAIT CITY, Jan 21: A Kuwaiti diving team successfully removed two tons of debris and abandoned fishing nets from Kuwait Bay and Umm Al-Namel Island on Wednesday as part of ongoing efforts to protect marine ecosystems.

The team, affiliated with the Environmental Voluntary Foundation, carried out the cleanup campaign using five fully equipped boats, employing all available logistical and technical resources to clear targeted sites of pollutants, team leader Waleed Al-Fadhel told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).

Al-Fadhel noted that work in Kuwait Bay is challenging due to strong currents, shallow shores, and frequent high waves, and emphasized that the operation was conducted in coordination with the General Directorate of Coast Guard, the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fisheries Resources, and the Environment Public Authority.

He explained that removing entangled fishing nets helps eliminate “ghost traps,” which pose threats to marine life and impede navigation. The cleanup on Umm Al-Namel Island focused on collecting plastic waste and debris that harm the island’s environmental and aesthetic value.

Umm Al-Namel, Kuwait’s fourth largest island after Bubiyan, Failaka, and Warbah, is located 650 meters from Ras Ashairij. The island hosts a navigational light on its northeastern corner and provides habitats for crabs, lobsters, shrimp, and large flocks of migratory birds traveling from North Asia to Africa. Its shores serve as resting points, feeding grounds, and safe nesting areas for these birds.

Al-Fadhel praised the government’s recent initiatives to preserve Kuwait Bay, describing them as essential for restoring ecological balance. He stressed that the combined efforts of volunteers and strict government oversight are key to returning the bay to a clean and sustainable marine environment.

He called on the public to cooperate in preserving the gains of the Kuwaiti marine environment and ensuring Kuwait Bay remains free of pollutants

Kuwaiti diving team during the cleanup campaign in Kuwait Bay and Umm Al-Namel Island.

Part of the debris and abandoned fishing nets.