Kuwait Diving Team Prepares Marine Moorings to Protect Coral Reefs on Failaka Island

By Zuhra Al-Kahtani, Kuwait City, 15 Oct (KUNA) — The Kuwaiti Diving Team, part of the Environmental Volunteer Foundation, announced the installation of 35 sea moorings on Failaka Island as part of a project to install and maintain marine moorings around the southern islands and key coral reef sites, aiming to protect the marine environment and its components.

Waleed Al-Shatti, the team’s marine operations manager, told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on Thursday that this project is among the most important preventive environmental initiatives to protect coral reefs from destruction and breakage caused by the anchoring of boats and yachts using anchors or buoys.

He added that the moorings provide a safe and easy means of securing boats and yachts without relying on traditional methods, while also protecting coral reef sites from damage caused by discarded fishing nets and other debris.

Al-Shatti explained that the moorings help island visitors identify safe boundaries for shallow areas, preventing collisions. He noted that the project requires significant efforts and continuous monitoring by the team throughout the year.

He stated that the marine mooring project began in 1997 and has been developed over the years to reach its current components, which offer the highest levels of safety and durability even under the most difficult weather conditions. He emphasized that the moorings are environmentally friendly, with a total of 130 moorings installed at all marine sites with high coral density.

Al-Shatti pointed out that the project has had a clear impact in rehabilitating anchoring sites, noting that the team’s experience in this field is pioneering globally and has been disseminated through documentaries, photographs, and informational materials.

He praised the efforts of the General Directorate of Coast Guard, the Public Authority for Environmental Affairs, and the Public Authority for Agriculture and Fisheries Resources in enforcing laws protecting the marine environment and ensuring maritime safety. He also commended sea users who comply with regulations to protect marine life, expressing gratitude to all supporting entities for their social responsibility.

Regarding Failaka Island, he described it as one of Kuwait’s beautiful islands, located 30 kilometers from the Zour coast. It covers an area of 140,000 square meters, with a length of 370 meters and a width of 300 meters. The island is characterized by clear waters, soft sands, and surrounding diverse coral reefs at depths ranging from 2 to 20 meters. It is also home to flocks of rare migratory birds.

Al-Shatti added that Failaka and its natural wildlife constitute a nature reserve where interference with its natural components is prohibited. The team has carried out several environmental operations to save it, including removing nets entangled in coral reefs, salvaging sunken boats and yachts, retrieving debris, and installing marine moorings for anchoring boats and yachts to avoid breaking coral reefs. (End) Z.H. / T.A.B.