Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MECC), represented by the Department of Marine Protection and in cooperation with the marine scientific team of the Protection and Natural Reserves Sector, carried out a campaign to remove abandoned fishing nets entangled among coral reefs on the seabed in the marine area east of Doha.
The campaign resulted in the removal of abandoned fishing nets with a length of 500 metres, at a depth of 16 metres below the sea surface. These nets posed a significant threat to marine organisms in the territorial waters of Qatar and were causing severe damage to coral reefs.
????| تمكنت وزارة البيئة والتغير المناخي ممثلة بادارة الحماية البحرية وبالتعاون مع الفريق العلمي البحري التابع لقطاع الحماية والمحميات الطبيعية، من إزالة شباك صيد مهملة بطول 500 متر طولي، كانت عالقة بين الشعاب المرجانية على عمق 16 مترًا تحت سطح البحر بالمنطقة البحرية شرق الدوحة.… pic.twitter.com/Q2i3Jy7vdM
— وزارة البيئة والتغير المناخي (@moecc_qatar) June 1, 2025
After completing the removal process, the team documented the condition of the coral reefs. A rich biodiversity of fish and marine organisms was observed, indicating the positive impact of the specialized teams’ efforts in supporting marine biodiversity in the country.
These actions are part of a series of campaigns to remove waste and encroachments on the marine environment, which are carried out by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change within its continuous commitment to preserving the marine environment and protecting sensitive ecosystems, especially coral reefs, which are important habitats for marine life. The Ministry affirmed that these efforts contribute to restoring ecological balance and ensuring the sustainability of marine resources, stressing the continuation of monitoring wildlife and its natural habitats to protect the marine environment in the country.
