Environment Authority: Strengthening the marine environment protection system and raising readiness to handle marine pollution incidents
The Public Authority for Environment organizes a workshop to enhance the national emergency plan for responding to marine pollution in cooperation with the regional organization.
Translated by Qiyas from الوسط — Original source
- Director of the Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine Environment: Our organization comprises eight countries, including Kuwait, and we have been working with the Public Authority for Environmental Affairs since 2018. - Lujain Al-Sayegh: 20 government and oil entities are participating in the workshop.
The Public Authority for Environmental Affairs affirmed yesterday its commitment to strengthening the marine environmental protection system in Kuwait, enhancing the country’s national readiness to deal with various types of marine pollution incidents, and cooperating with relevant local authorities to ensure effective response.
Dr. Lujain Al-Sayegh, Head of the Sea Water Monitoring Section at the Authority’s Water Quality Monitoring Department, stated that the Authority is organizing a two-day workshop on the “National Emergency Plan for Response to Oil and Hazardous and Noxious Substances Marine Pollution Incidents” as part of ongoing efforts to bolster the nation’s marine environmental protection framework. She added that the workshop aims to review the components of the national plan, discuss the technical and organizational aspects related to its implementation, and clarify the roles and responsibilities assigned to relevant entities.
She further explained that the workshop also seeks to enhance coordination and joint cooperation mechanisms to ensure the integration of national efforts and achieve an effective, organized response in the event of marine incidents.
She noted that the workshop involves several national entities with a stake in the matter, alongside representatives from regional organizations, experts, and specialists, providing an opportunity to exchange expertise and knowledge and to benefit from experiences and best practices in marine environmental emergency preparedness and response.
Emphasizing the integration of roles, Al-Sayegh stressed that dealing with marine pollution incidents requires coordinated efforts among various entities due to the nature of such incidents and their environmental and economic consequences. This makes prior coordination, clear definition of responsibilities, and improved preparedness essential elements to ensure effective response.
She expressed hope that the workshop’s outcomes would help consolidate a shared understanding of the requirements for implementing the plan and strengthen institutional cooperation among participating entities, thereby supporting national efforts to protect the marine environment and preserve its resources.
For his part, Captain Arif Aqil Al-Awadi, Director of the Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine Environment (ROPME), said that the organization comprises eight countries, including Kuwait, and that they have been working with the Public Authority for Environmental Affairs since 2018 to develop the National Marine Emergency Plan.
Al-Awadi added that the workshop on the “National Emergency Plan for Response to Oil and Hazardous and Noxious Substances Marine Pollution Incidents” aims to ensure Kuwait’s full readiness to confront any oil spills or hazardous material incidents in the region. The workshop seeks to activate the plan and allocate roles among various entities to handle any unforeseen emergencies.
