More than 150 volunteers to help in port clean-up

Abu Dhabi: More than 150 volunteers will team up this Saturday to clean up Al Silaa's Fishermen's Port.

Organised by the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi (EAD), the campaign is part of EAD's larger Marine Debris Awareness Campaign, which was launched earlier this month to raise public awareness on the negative impact of marine debris on public health as well as marine flora and fauna.

During the clean-up, which will begin at 10am and continue until noon, Al Silaa's Fishermen's Port will be cleared of marine debris and litter which otherwise would end up in the sea harming the UAE's fragile biodiversity, affecting swimmers and also fishermen's livelihoods.

Following the clean-up, a presentation will be delivered in Arabic and Malalayam to Al Silaa's fishermen to raise their awareness about the negative impacts of marine debris. Posters and informative flyers will be distributed to all participants.

The EAD will be providing transportation for the volunteers to the site from Spinney's Supermarket parking lot in Khaldya. Al Silaa is located about 340km from Abu Dhabi city.

Confirmed as volunteers in the Al Silaa Clean-up Campaign are the UAE Coast Guard department, the Customs Department, Immigration Department, Abu Dhabi Municipality, Public Works Department, Civil Defence Department, the Jebel Dhanna Resort as well as several students.

During the last clean-up campaign, which was held at Al Mirfa, massive quantities of waste and debris were collected including numerous remnants of boats and fishing gear in addition to waste wood, plastic and glass.

The total quantity of waste which was collected during that clean up campaign reached 7,245kg.

These clean-up campaigns are being accompanied by comprehensive awareness and education campaigns covering a wide spectrum of the population including fishermen.

More clean-up campaigns are expected to be conducted on different areas of Abu Dhabi's coastline, involving more of the community.

Any members of the public who are interested in volunteering should contact the EAD for registration.