Diving team retrieves abandoned fishing net weighing a quarter ton at a depth of 12 meters in Arwajan - Sarmad

The Kuwaiti diving team, affiliated with the Environmental Volunteer Foundation, successfully carried out an extensive environmental operation that resulted in the removal of large quantities of abandoned fishing nets entangled in coral reefs at the Arwajan marine site.

Team leader Waleed Al-Fadl told KUNA on Saturday that the operation successfully retrieved abandoned fishing nets weighing a quarter of a ton at a depth of 12 meters below the surface, covering an area of 30 square meters, and rescued marine organisms trapped within them.

He explained that the operation is a continuation of the persistent volunteer efforts led by the team for many years, aimed at fully cleaning the waters of Kuwait, protecting marine environmental components, and ensuring navigational safety for boats and ships.

Al-Fadl added that abandoned fishing nets, known as “ghost nets,” pose a serious threat to the ecosystem. They suffocate and destroy coral reefs, which rely on sunlight, in addition to trapping other fish and marine life, causing their death.

He emphasized that the success of the operation at Arwajan represents a new step toward restoring ecological balance in this vital area. Beyond its environmental impact, removing these entangled nets directly contributes to securing waterways and ensuring navigational safety for sea users and divers, thereby avoiding accidents involving nets tangling with ship engines or impeding propeller movement.

Al-Fadl noted that the Arwajan site hosts several species of beautiful coral reefs and is a popular destination for divers and fishing enthusiasts. It also contains the wreck of a large iron ship that has been there for 40 years.

He affirmed the team’s commitment to protecting coral reefs by establishing sustainable mooring points for boats and yachts to prevent anchor dropping, which can break coral. The team also monitors the health of the reefs, removes debris and fishing nets from them, and plans to issue a scientific report on their growth at this site in the coming days.

He further confirmed that the team will continue its multi-year mission through a comprehensive national plan aimed at removing all fishing debris and abandoned nets from all Kuwaiti marine sites, relying on the efforts of its national volunteer staff driven by a sense of social and environmental responsibility toward their country.

He called on sea users, especially those at coral reef sites, to report any entangled fishing nets to the Kuwaiti Diving Team, the Coast Guard Administration, or the Public Authority for Environmental Affairs for removal, thereby reducing their destructive environmental impact and navigational hazards. He also urged adherence to navigational laws and consideration of environmental aspects.