Research Institute: Kuwait's representative elected vice president of a UNESCO regional committee
Kuwait's representative elected vice president of the Indian Ocean Regional Committee of UNESCO, with a proposal for joint maritime voyages
Translated by Qiyas from السياسة — Original source
Al-Sa’eed: We proposed a joint marine research expedition initiative from the Arabian Gulf to the Indian Ocean
The Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research announced on Thursday the election of Kuwait’s representative, Dr. Turki Al-Sa’eed, as Vice President of the Indian Ocean Regional Commission (IOCINDIO) of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), during the commission’s meetings in Bali, Indonesia.
Dr. Turki Al-Sa’eed, Director of the Coastal and Marine Resources Management Program at the institute, told the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that Kuwait’s participation featured the proposal of a joint marine research expedition initiative using the Kuwaiti research vessel “Al-Mustakshif,” extending from the Arabian Gulf to the Indian Ocean and reaching the Bay of Bengal, while also covering the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.
He explained that the initiative aims to study pollution by microplastics and enhance regional and international scientific cooperation in marine research fields.
He added that the initiative includes a proposal for cooperation between the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences, and the Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine Environment, to leverage shared research capacities and expertise.
He noted that Kuwait presented its expertise spanning over 30 years in marine monitoring and studies, alongside four research projects funded by the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences, addressing marine ecosystems, biodiversity, pollution, and climate-related changes.
He mentioned that Kuwait’s future research priorities include developing marine monitoring systems and scientific modeling, improving the ability to predict harmful algal blooms and fish kills, and studying the impacts of human activities on the marine environment.
Al-Sa’eed emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation among member states, exchanging data and expertise, and developing research capacities, thereby contributing to the protection of the marine environment and the sustainability of its resources, and supporting the goals of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.
