Whaling agency praises Oman’s effort to rescue humpback caught in net
Humpback in Arabian Sea is unique as it is only group of this type that does not migrate
Muscat: As Oman joined other countries in celebrating World Wetlands Day that falls on February 2 every year, there as one more reason for celebration. The International Whaling Agency praised the concerted efforts of the agencies in Oman involved in the rescue of a humpback whale stuck in a net in sea off Duqm port recently.
The note stated that Sultanate’s government has succeeded in responding to the emergency incidents that threaten the marine environment. The appreciation letter addressed to Dr Abdullah bin Ali Al Omari, Chairman of Oman’s Environment Authority, was signed by Dr Rebecca Lint, Executive Secretary of the International Whaling Agency.
Dr Rebecca noted that the humpback whale in the Arabian Sea is unique because it is the only group of this type that does not migrate but rather spends its entire life in the Arabian Sea. This makes it susceptible to the threats of extinction, which adds even more value to the rescue operation undertaken by Omani authorities.
Last week, a humpback whale, a species known as the gentle giant of ocean, was found entangled in net for more than two days near the port of Duqm in Oman. This prompted a rescue operation undertaken by a team of specialists from the Environment Authority, Port of Duqm, Five Oceans Environmental Services LLC, Oman’s Coast Guard, and Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO). The video of the whale being released into the sea after the operation sent a sigh of relief among those that were following the rescue operation news.