The Kuwait Dive Team, affiliated with the Environmental Voluntary Foundation, successfully retrieved three abandoned fishing nets weighing two tons in Kuwait Bay. The team also rescued trapped marine creatures and fish to safeguard marine life and ensure the safety of navigational channels, preventing hazardous accidents for boats and ships.

In a statement to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on Tuesday, team leader Waleed Al-Fadhel explained that the volunteer mission was carried out due to the high concentration of abandoned nets in the area, particularly since Kuwait Bay is a vital fish habitat and an ecologically significant zone.

Al-Fadhel added that specialized boats were prepared to retrieve the nets, which contained numerous dead fish, marine creatures, and seabirds. Some nets were located in relatively deep waters (13 meters), while others were in shallow areas. The team relied on tidal movements to recover them, taking into account weather conditions and wave heights.

He expressed gratitude to supporting entities, including the Kuwait Ports Authority, the Environment Public Authority, Kuwait Stock Exchange, the General Administration of Coast Guard, the Public Authority for Agriculture and Fish Resources, and the marine rescue centers under the General Fire Department.

These efforts are part of the global "Clean Seas" campaign, in collaboration with the UN Environment Programme’s West Asia Regional Office. Al-Fadhel highlighted the team’s ongoing projects, which cover Kuwait’s waters from north to south, along with coral reef monitoring and protection in Kuwaiti islands and coastal areas. Beach clean-up campaigns with civil society organizations also continue to raise environmental awareness and promote volunteerism.

Al-Fadhel praised the efforts of concerned authorities and citizens who report abandoned nets for removal. He urged boat owners to notify the Coast Guard, marine rescue centers, or the Kuwait Dive Team about any marine debris or violations for prompt action.

He also stressed the need for stricter penalties against fishermen and sea-goers who violate maritime fishing laws, particularly in Kuwait Bay, where net fishing is prohibited to preserve marine biodiversity, coastal ecosystems, and sustainable fisheries.