Kuwaiti divers continue clear-up of Umm Al-Naml island

KUWAIT, July 21 (KUNA) -- Kuwait Dive Team (KDT), affiliated with the Environmental Voluntary Foundation (EVF), has continued waste clear-up around Umm Al-Naml island, surrounding of which is a main habitat for marine creatures in the national sea waters.
In their latest mission, the divers picked plastic items littering the sea-bed around the 568,000-sq-m island, which also attracts various species of birds, said the team chief, Walid Al-Fadhel, in remarks to KUNA.
The team, using small boats, has collected more than 12 tons of waste from Kuwait Bay, he said, indicating that discarded items hampered navigation and harmed the marine creatures. Umm Al-Naml, located 650 meters from Ras Ushairej, is distinguished with a light-house and contains relics dating back to the ancient Dilmun civilization. There are other islands in the territorial waters -- namely Boubyan, Failaka and Warba.
The Kuwaiti divers have been working arduously for years to clean up waste littering the marine environment. They have removed tons of abandoned fishing nets and others items from the shores and the sea-bed. (end) zik.rk