The Kuwait Dive Team, affiliated with the Environmental Voluntary Foundation, announced the completion of the first phase of its project to clean the southern coasts of the country, removing five tons of plastic waste, wood, and fishing nets.

Walid Al-Fadel, the head of the team, told the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on Saturday that the coasts cleaned by the team included Bneider, Al-Zour, Al-Khiran, and Al-Nuwaiseeb. He noted that three drifting buoys, which posed a danger to maritime navigation, were also retrieved.

Al-Fadel explained that this initiative was launched due to the strong seasonal southern winds that recently swept through the country, causing high waves and washing ashore debris. The subsequent shift to northern winds led to the debris settling on the coasts.

He highlighted that plastic waste poses a significant threat to the environment and marine life, citing a United Nations report indicating that plastic causes the death of one million birds worldwide annually, as well as 250,000 marine creatures, including endangered sea turtles.

Al-Fadel stated that the team utilized equipment, boats, and vehicles to remove and lift the waste. He emphasized the team's ongoing efforts to clean the country's coasts, including Al-Julaia and the Al-Jahra Reserve, in cooperation with the Environment Public Authority. Additionally, a weekly beach cleanup campaign dedicated to students is held every Tuesday.

He also affirmed the team's continued efforts to retrieve boats and fishing nets from coral reefs, as well as its awareness campaigns on the importance of preserving the marine environment through lectures and printed materials distributed to all segments of society.

Al-Fadel stressed the team's cooperation and continuous coordination with various government, private, voluntary, and concerned entities, as well as regional and international organizations, to exchange expertise and benefit from achievements and projects related to this field.

He emphasized the importance of adhering to environmental protection laws to avoid environmental violations and to preserve the marine environment.