Boost to eco-conservation, fishing, diving, tourism

Manama, July 27 (BNA): Chief Executive of the Supreme Council for Environment SCE, Dr. Mohamed Mubarak Bin Daina, has met a group of professional and amateur divers, and representatives from environmental societies, to brief them on the details of SCE’s edicts (2), (3) of 2017 on Northern Marine Reserves. The SCE’s CEO said the edicts regarding the Northern Marine Reserves issued by the Personal Representative of HM the King and SCE President, His Highness Shaikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, had been subject to extensive studies over three years, in cooperation with the relevant environmental and tourism authorities. He said the announcement of the Northern Marine Reserves (Hayrrat), which is one of the Kingdom’s largest marine areas and rich in coral reefs, would offer significant benefits to organized fishing and diving operations. He added that the edicts would be activated in cooperation with the Coast Guard and the Fisheries Directorate at the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning. The SCE’s CEO went on to give an overview of current activities in the "Hayr Bulthama", "Hayr Shtayah", "Hayr Buamamah" areas, as well as a series of the stages to be implemented by the SCE, all of which will benefit fishermen, divers and those interested in wildlife. The divers and environmental society representatives praised the SCE’s edicts and expressed readiness to raise awareness of the Hayrrat project, in cooperation with the competent authorities.