Muscat - In an effort to safeguard Oman's marine environment, the Quriyat Divers removed 150kg of abandoned fishing nets from the seabed in Ras Abu Dawood, Quriyat on Friday.
The clean-up, carried out at depths between 6m to 12m, was conducted after the team received a report on discarded nets threatening marine life, including corals, turtles and crustaceans.
Speaking to Muscat Daily, Juma Khamis al Amri, Head of the Quriyat Divers, said the clean-up followed a field assessment on September 27 and involved five divers who worked for more than four hours to extract the tangled nets.
"The site was particularly challenging as it contained soft coral that required utmost care to avoid damage. A large portion of the nets had also become lodged on rocky formations due to tides and waves, making the task more complex," Amri explained.
He noted that this was not the first such initiative. On September 19, four team members removed around 180kg of nets from another site in Quriyat.
Highlighting future plans, Amri informed that the team, with support of the Environment Authority, is preparing for a large-scale clean-up drive in Masirah Island from October 23 to 25. "This will see the participation of 20 divers - 15 from Quriyat and five from Suwaiq - working in coordination with local authorities and residents," he said.
Calling for stronger cooperation from the fishing community, Amri added, "We extend our thanks to the generous fishermen whose reports allow us to act swiftly. Their cooperation is vital in saving marine life, protecting diving sites and ensuring the sustainability of our seas."