Oman’s decision to join clean seas drive hailed

Marine biologists and water researchers in Oman have hailed the Sultanate’s decision to join the United Nations Environment Programme’s Clean Seas campaign, which aims to make the world’s oceans litter free.

So far, 40 countries have signed up for the campaign, and Oman, alongside Chile, Sri Lanka and South Africa, are the latest to join this global collaboration, which includes measures such as banning plastic bag, new marine reserves and drives to increase recycling.

Dr Jauad El Kharraz is head of research at the Middle East Desalination Research Center (MEDRC) and is well-versed in the importance of keeping the oceans clean.

“This is good news, because, for Oman, which has such a long coastline on the Indian Ocean and Sea of Oman, it is important to do this with commitment, alongside the efforts being made by other countries, and see how we can probably develop joint activities to clean the ocean and protect some areas, especially those which are close to the coast of Oman,” he told us. “This is a good move forward by the authorities, and I believe all countries should commit to this international movement to see how we can reduce pollution in the ocean.

“A lot of international reports on the state of the world’s oceans were alarming, because this showed people the damage plastics and other pollutants could cause to the oceans,” added El Kharraz. “They come from various industries, and they do not just harm fish and the ecosystem, but they also damage many other sectors, such as desalination plants. The plants get their intake from seawater, and this is then converted into freshwater, but if this intake is polluted with plastics and other matter, it may get more complicated and more expensive."

El Kharraz hoped Oman would follow in the footsteps of other nations and enforce a ban on plastic bags.

“It is important to stop pollution at the source, and last year, many Arab countries such as Morocco and Tunisia actually banned the use of plastic bags,” he explained. “Such actions are very important, and many nations must follow this example. The plastic bags that we use for shopping often end up in the sea and fish eat these bags, which end up in their stomach, and those then end up in our stomach because we eat these fish.

“Unfortunately, we hear of many situations where sharks and turtles have died because they have eaten plastic, so not only do we need to clean the ocean, but we need to have regulations and legislation, punish the polluters, and also take simple measures that have big impact,” stressed El Kharraz. “Banning plastic bags is a good step going forward.”

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