JEDDAH: Hundreds of divers, volunteers, and government agencies joined forces in one of Jeddah’s biggest marine conservation efforts: a seabed cleanup at Jeddah Marina that cleared 9.3 tonnes of rubbish from the Red Sea, the Saudi Press Agency said on Wednesday.
The project, which was held under the patronage of Jeddah Gov. Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Jalawi, completed this week at the harbour in North Obhur.
SPA said 419 registered divers and volunteers completed more than 300 dives over 64 hours of fieldwork, collecting plastics, metals, tyres, and other garbage from the seabed.
Of the waste collected, about 6,160 kg, or 65.7 per cent, was recycled instead of being sent to landfills.
The project was organised by the Jeddah Transport Company which operates and develops the marinas and water taxi services in the city, the SPA said.
Later, Jeddah Transport Company CEO Youssef Al-Sayegh honoured the participants, including leaders from the Jeddah Municipality, the Saudi Red Sea Authority, the Ministry of Sport, the National Center for Environmental Compliance and 10 diving centers.
Environmental programs have also included tourism operators and local communities in conservation efforts. The authority-backed Friends of the Red Sea group organised a volunteer beach cleanup at Rixos Beach in King Abdullah Economic City in September, bringing together hospitality workers to help maintain coastal regions and foster environmental responsibility, SPA said.
The Jeddah Transport Company said: “Protecting the marine environment is not only about removing existing waste, but also about pollution prevention and promoting shared responsibility to preserve the sea for future generations.
