200 meter net found entangled in coral reefs in Damaniyat

Muscat grape – The Environment Authority, represented by the South Batinah Environment Department, on Wednesday conducted a cleaning campaign for coral reefs in the Daymaniyat Islands Nature Reserve, Wilayat of Barka.

The initiative involved various government and private agencies, community associations and volunteer teams.

Eng Salem bin Saeed al Maskari, Director of the South Batinah Environment Department, emphasized that this campaign is the first in a series of initiatives by the Authority in 2024 to clean the marine environment and coral reefs in the coastal governorates.

He noted that the campaign removed a significant amount of plastic and fishing waste, including more than 200 meters of fishing nets that had become entangled in the reefs, leading to the death of fish and other marine life.

Maskari emphasized that the campaign aims to protect marine life and the ecosystem of marine organisms, while promoting environmental awareness in the community. “We want to involve society in spreading the culture of keeping the environment clean in Oman,” he said.

Since the Daymaniyat Islands are one of Oman’s most important coral reefs and an important location for artisanal fishing, especially for fishermen from Muscat and South Batinah, he urged fishermen not to fish near the islands fish to avoid getting stuck. in coral reefs, thus contributing to the conservation of the natural environment in Oman.