Aqaba - The Aqaba Marine Reserve, in partnership with the Program for the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (PERSGA), concluded a two-day workshop focused on the growing issue of marine litter and its impact on the coastal ecosystem.
اضافة اعلان
Titled "Assessment of Marine Litter on Beaches," the workshop brought together key stakeholders from both the public and private sectors to address the urgent need for coordinated action to protect Aqaba’s marine environment.
In opening remarks, Ayman Suleiman, Environment Commissioner at the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA), underscored the critical importance of collective efforts to safeguard the region’s marine ecosystems.
"The protection of our marine resources is not just an environmental obligation, but a key economic imperative," Suleiman said, noting that the initiative is part of a broader national strategy aimed at curbing marine pollution and promoting sustainable practices.
Zahir Al-Aghwan, Regional Coordinator for PERSGA’s Marine Litter Management Program, detailed the harmful effects of marine litter particularly plastic waste on marine biodiversity, coral reefs, and avian species. "Plastic waste, which makes up the bulk of marine debris, degrades slowly and poses a lasting threat to marine life,"
Al-Aghwan explained. He also introduced best practices for managing and mitigating waste along the coastline, while advocating for greater community involvement through awareness campaigns.
Nasser Zawaideh, Director of the Aqaba Marine Reserve, highlighted the persistent challenges posed by scattered waste along the shorelines and beneath the sea. He praised ongoing efforts by ASEZA and its partners, including civil society organizations and government agencies, to mitigate the impact of waste through targeted cleanup campaigns.
Zawaideh cited statistics showing that, in 2023, a total of 335 cleanup campaigns resulted in the collection of over 4,371 kilograms of waste, while efforts in 2024 have already removed 12,000 kilograms from Aqaba’s beaches.
Looking ahead, the workshop will launch educational programs aimed at engaging local schoolchildren, a collaboration between ASEZA and the Aqaba Directorate of Education. The initiative seeks to instill a sense of responsibility toward marine conservation in future generations.
Al-Zawaideh emphasized that local community engagement is pivotal to ensuring the long-term sustainability of environmental initiatives.
"Protecting our beaches and marine ecosystem requires not just government action, but the full participation of local communities," he said, adding that preserving Aqaba’s natural heritage is essential for both environmental and economic reasons.
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