Saudi authorities sign crucial marine life protection agreement

Riyadh: A memorandum of understanding has been signed by the National Center for Wildlife and the Saudi Water Sports and Diving Federation to protect the marine life in Saudi Arabia. The MoU also caters for boosting the bilateral collaboration between the two bodies, Arab News reported.

Prince Sultan bin Fahd bin Salman, the president of the federation and Mohammed Ali Quraban, the CEO of the Center, signed the MoU recently.

The MoU details the activities and campaigns for marine and coastal life. It also includes cooperation in responding to emergencies and disasters. The two signatories agreed to check poaching and illegal diving in the sea, while the evaluation of diving sites and training instructors are also a part of the MoU.

An expert and professional diver who obtained an Advanced Open Water Diver license from the Professional Association of Diving Instructors, Mohammed Alyahya, said that he is working on some of the awareness programmes for the MoU and added that he is optimistic about the agreement by the bodies.

He told Arab News that the understanding is reflected in the organisation of events as well as the promotion of marine sports hobbies, like swimming, fishing and recreational diving.

Chief executive of Environmental Balance CO., Osama J Qurban, told Arab News that the MoU would aid the efforts to create awareness in people as well as with sports practitioners about the importance of conserving marine life, particularly corals.