Diving campaign to protect Abu Dhabi's marine environment attempts to break world record

Abu Dhabi, UAE:  “Dive Together to Protect Our Marine Environment” is the waste-collection campaign currently taking place at Abu Dhabi’s Free Port, the New Free Port, the nearby Fisherman’s Port, Zayed Port and on DAS Island.

The waste-collection campaign which is organized by Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC) together with Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company (ADMA-OPCO) and other UAE entities from the government and private sector, aims to raise awareness of the increasing quantity of marine debris in regional waters and oceans world-wide. 

The organizers hope to attract more than 250 certified divers to participate in the event – which would make it the biggest (in terms of divers taking part) single cleaning and diving event, in order to break the current world record.

“So far, we have counted 210 divers. But we are still expecting more to join in before the day is finished”, said Capt. Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO, ADPC.

The event is supported by many other high profile organizations in Abu Dhabi, including the National Oil Company (ADNOC), the Abu Dhabi City Municipality, Abu Dhabi Gas Liquefaction Company Ltd. (ADGAS),  Tadweer(Center of Waste Management - Abu Dhabi),  the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD) and Abu Dhabi Gas Industries Ltd – GASCO. The participants and supporters attending range from CEOs to environmental activists and fishermen. 

“We are all working together for the same cause: to protect our beautiful sea life and our precious marine environment. As a master developer of ports and industrial zones, ADPC not only has the responsibility to protect the marine environment, but also the mandate to encourage the local community to support and take action too”, said Al Shamisi explained.

“We would like to thank everyone – all our partners and the many divers - who have joined in with todays’ activities.  We have collected a considerable amount of waste from the various locations and made a big difference to the local environment.” 

Fozeya Al Mahmoud, Manager of Environmental Outreach, Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD), added:  “We are very proud to support this campaign, by working together we can achieve our common goals and protect the environment from waste that adversely affects fisheries and marine wildlife in general.”

His Excellency Eisa Saif Al Qubaisi, General Manager of Tadweer (Center of Waste Management - Abu Dhabi) said:
“The campaign aims to create awareness and focuses on the importance of our marine environment which is a crucial part of our beautiful landscape attracting many tourists each year. By taking part in campaigns like these, we can protect Abu Dhabi’s coastline. Marine debris threatens nature, people’s health and the public image of Abu Dhabi. Together we can raise awareness and help maintain a safe and clean marine environment.”

Commenting on the environmental campaign, Ali Rashid Al Jarwan, Chief Executive Officer, ADMA-OPCO, added : “Protection of the environment in general and the marine ecology in particular is everyone’s responsibility. We, at ADMA-OPCO, pay special attention to conservation of the marine environment where we carry out our daily operations.”

“We are proud of our human resources and our teams who work hand in hand with other teams from the public and private sectors,” he said, adding that ADMA-OPCO is ready to support any initiative that aims at keeping our environment clean”.  

Maitha Mohamed Al Qader, a local UAE volunteer diver, talked about her participation: “it is my first time to participate in such awareness campaign and as a UAE National I am very proud to help to clean up the sea. I would love to participate more in future events either here in UAE or other countries”

Finally, Mr Fahim Kazim, ADGAS CEO added: “We are proud to be part of this campaign, which aims to raise awareness on the importance of protecting the marine environment. The campaign comes in line with ADGAS’s established strategy of preserving the marine environment as reflected in the company’s campaigns on Das Island. Such initiatives have also been organized by ADGAS to clean Abu Dhabi’s beaches and islands.”,.
A member of the GASCO Diving Team said: “Participating in environmental campaigns aimed at protecting our environment, especially the fragile marine life, is a very important part of GASCO’s Corporate Social Responsibility. The GASCO Diving Team since its creation in 2002 has actively participated in many clean up campaigns. GASCO divers from our Head Office and all our other sites are here today to try and set a new world record for the number of participants involved in a  marine environment cleaning campaign”.