On Friday, June 10, 2022, HE the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Sheikh Dr Faleh bin Nasser al-Thani, participated in an event hosted by the ministry on World Oceans Day at the Hawksbill turtle protection project site in Fuwairit beach. Clean up activities included the beach and deep waters of the site, as well as releasing baby turtles into the sea.

The event was also attended by Ministry of Environment and Climate Change's (MoECC) Protection and Natural Protectorates Affairs assistant undersecretary Dr Ibrahim Abdulatif al-Muslimani, Wildlife Development Department director Mohamed Ahmed al-Khanji, Department of Wildlife head Ali Saleh al-Marri, senior environment specialist (co-ordinator of the Sea Turtle Protection Project) Dr Mohamed AlSayyid Ahmed, and various volunteers from several organizations.

His Excellency Dr Faleh emphasized the importance of the event in commemoration of World Ocean Day, as well as the beginning of Hawksbill turtle hatching season. The ministry is keen to engage the public in efforts to protect the environment, and this comes as part of its effort to sustain the Hawksbill turtle population, a species in danger of extinction. 

Minister of Environment Participates in Ministry's World Oceans Day Events #QNA pic.twitter.com/3bBgonD2zV

— Qatar News Agency (@QNAEnglish) June 10, 2022

Additionally, he emphasized the importance of promoting awareness and knowledge about the significance and importance of maintaining biodiversity in Qatar and doing everything possible for the protection of endangered species, in particular.

The minister pointed out that the turtles project has succeeded in allocating safe habitats for nesting and incubation of the eggs, which contributes towards enriching the marine environment in the country. 

He said that the ministry has been keen to work on this project since 2003 and ministerial decision no 37 for 2010 was issued to preserve the endangered marine birds and turtles. He also said that the work team concerned at the ministry has released more than 35,000 baby turtles over the past five years.

Further, he pointed out that this season was highly successful as 98 nests were transferred to the protected site at Fuwairit Beach, and the hatching season started after two months from putting the first nest at this site. Accordingly, he expressed his appreciation for the procedures taken by the Ministry to protect the endangered species and the high rates of survival of the baby turtles released into the sea.

The participants at this event included volunteers from Qatar Red Crescent Society, The Friends of Environment Centre, Seashore Recycling and Sustainability Centre and other entities and diving groups.

At the conclusion of the cleaning processes, the field tour and the release of baby turtles, HE the Minister honored the participating entities and thanked them for their efforts to make the project a success.

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Image credit & Source: QNA