A campaign to clean the beaches of Sir Bu Nair Island will be launched recently. Organised and implemented by teams from the Marine Sustainability Department and the Communication and Community Services Department of the Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA) with the participation of Sharjah Police General Directorate, Sharjah Municipality and Bee’ah, the Sharjah Environment Company.
The campaign aims to preserve the cleanliness of the reserve and to clear the beaches of hazardous or harmful materials that might become attached to nesting turtles or be ingested by birds.
H.E. Hana Saif Al Suwaidi, EPAA Chairperson, said, “We are working to organise and implement clean-up campaigns for the beaches of Sir Bu Nair Island. This will help to highlight the island’s environmental, tourism, recreational and educational importance while introducing various groups and members of the local community to the island and reserve.”
Mrs Al Suwaidi pointed out that Sir Bu Nair is important because it is the second largest gathering place in the Arabian Gulf for nesting hawksbill sea turtles, which are endangered. EPAA works to preserve the island’s biodiversity and to provide a suitable environment for the turtles’ nesting.
EPAA seeks to help to promote sustainability among the newer generations by emphasising the local and international importance of Sir Bu Nair, educating young people about improper waste disposal and its negative effects on human health and the marine environment, boosting awareness about environmental challenges and taking advantage of public holidays in order to implement programs that direct young people’s energy towards beneficial activities.
Approximately 110 km northwest of Sharjah, Sir Bu Nair is where sea salt is extracted. With a visible well and oil, the 13 sq. km island is known for its sandy beaches, clear water and rich coral and fish life. In order to preserve its rich biodiversity, Sir Bu Nair Island was declared a Protected Area by Amiri Decree No. 25 issued by His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah. The island is of international importance; it is recognised as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention, it was added to the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and accepted in the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and Management of Marine Turtles and their Habitats of the Indian Ocean and South-East Asia.