Move afoot to protect Khor Fakkan coast

Efforts are underway to have the Khor Fakkan coast declared a natural conservation area to preserve its ecological environment.

The environmental hazards in that area were highlighted in a recent meeting organised by the Environment and Protected Areas Authority to review plans for the eco-tourism festival due to be held in Khor Fakkan in December.

The meeting was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, fishermen's associations, diving centres, the Sharjah Economic Development Department, heritage societies, Sharjah Municipality and Police, and the Department of Culture and Information.

Participants urged the authorities to speed up issuing a law that declares Khor Fakkan a "natural conservation" area.

Dr Shubbar Al Wedae, Director of the Authority's environmental awareness section, who chaired the meeting, told Gulf News about the urgent need to issue a local law to safeguard the Eastern Region's marine life from continuous threats posed by both residents and tourists.

He maintained that without the existence of laws that curb negative environmental practices, the area's ecological environment would be wasted.

"We are trying to get all local sectors involved in this endeavour since environmental safety is a matter of general interest," he said.

Dr Al Wedae, who also joined a local team on a tour of the Eastern Coast recently to assess its environmental situation, observed that the use of net fishing had been destroying the coral reefs there.

A large number of coral reefs were found to be broken or dead. Huge quantities of small fishes were also being captured in fishermen's nets.

He added that a large number of green turtles, an endangered marine species, also get caught in the nets.

Hana Saif Al Suwaidi, Director of the Natural History Museum in Sharjah, explained that eco-tourism, due to start in Khor Fakkan later this year, must highlight the need to regulate marine activities there.

It should focus on raising fishermen's awareness about the important value of this area and the need to maintain its biological diversification.

She stressed that environmental bodies must collaborate efforts to protect the unique natural environment of the Eastern Region, and suggested preparing a scientific plan to study the various marine life forms and the environmental problems there.

This would be useful in finding solutions to these problems and raising public awareness about the dangers that threaten the safety of the marine environment, she pointed out.

The meeting reviewed the programme of the prospective eco-tourism festival and suggested holding a major symposium that projects the ecological significance of Khor Fakkan, in addition to a marine exhibition and eco-cultural contests.

To make the festival more attractive, the participants proposed organising a heritage boat parade, folklore shows and fishing contests, in addition to plantation campaigns.

Moreover, efforts must be made to prepare a special TV programme and publish brochures that reflect the natural attractions of Khor Fakkan, they said.

They asserted that environmental awareness campaigns must be held throughout the year and must not be linked only to certain occasions, in order to ensure their success.