The ‘Marine Conservation’ event organised today (Thursday, February 9, 2006), by the Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) - Dubai Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC), in association with Nakheel and Exomos, generated excellent response with more than 30 scuba divers comprised of experts in the field of biological oceanography, collecting valuable data from the bottom of the sea off the coast of Jebel Ali, which will be used to study the marine life in the area.
The event, which was attended by leading environmentalists and experts on marine life, also featured an underwater photography session to document marine habitats and existing marine life in the region. Another highlight of the event was a screening of the first underwater film of the Palm Jumeriah project by Nakheel, where the focus was on the environmental studies conducted by the property developer and the positive impact its projects on marine life. Exomos, the main sponsor of the event, also screened their film on the marine life in Jebel Ali and the company’s latest submarines, which were also featured on the Discovery Channel.
“It is vital to collect important information about existing marine life of an area to have an in-depth understanding of the species of fish and plants that exist, there living conditions and natural habitats. The availability of adequate data and its detailed analysis will help us in our efforts to protect marine life and provide them with suitable habitat that guarantees ecological balance, especially in the wake of large scale projects being undertaken by Nakheel off the coasts of Dubai,” said Ahmed Hussain, Chief Executive Officer, EHS.
“It is pleasing to know that despite the increasing number of construction activities taking place offshore, the marine environment is abound with fish, corals, turtles, marine invertebrates, mollusks and crustaceans. Further more, the colour of the seawater in the area is also a good indication of the state of marine conditions. We are pleased with the outcome of this event and we are confident that the findings from the data and images collected will prove to be extremely useful for further research in the field of marine life,” he added.
