Abu Dhabi: The Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi (EAD) has issued a policy on protecting marine water quality that reviews the situation right now and the primary issues affecting marine water quality in the emirate.
The policy is a component of EAD’s efforts to protect and preserve Abu Dhabi’s marine resources and restrict activities that can pollute the ocean. The goal of the strategy is to provide appropriate legislative and regulatory frameworks, stop discharges that could have a negative effect on the marine environment, and promote recycling and reuse initiatives.
The strategy will also create a program to improve readiness in emergency situations that influence the quality of marine waters. It will also increase understanding and awareness of the potential negative effects of pollution and suggest ways to lessen such effects.
The policy is a part of a long-term strategy to realize EAD’s vision and helps solve the issues affecting the emirate’s marine water quality. By putting the policy into practice, the emirate’s environmental indicators will perform better, fishing will remain sustainable as a part of the emirate’s social history, and recreational, touristic, and maritime sports activities will all be promoted.
Through workshops, bilateral meetings, and knowledge-sharing, EAD closely coordinated and consulted with stakeholders and key partners throughout the creation of the policy document. The policy is in accordance with regional, national, and local policies, plans, and strategies, such as the National Food Security Strategy 2051, the UAE Water Security Strategy 2036, the Plan Maritime 2030: Abu Dhabi Coastal and Marine Framework Plan, the National Plan for Combating Marine Pollutants 2019, and the Abu Dhabi State of Environment Report 2017.
Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of EAD, remarked that “The sustainability of coastal and marine resources plays an important role in their preservation across generations, which enhances the social, economic and environmental value of coastal and marine areas. These include tourism, transport, oil and gas exploration and commercial uses, in addition to the contributions of other sectors such as heritage, marine environments and protected areas. These natural resources could be exposed to threats in case there is a deterioration in marine water quality which may also cause habitat loss and reduction in attractive and endangered species, biodiversity and environmental services.”
“For the proper governance and coordination between concerned authorities, the policy will be implemented in the emirate under our supervision through consultation, coordination and cooperation with strategic partners at the local and federal levels. We will also analyze the impacts of the policy’s implementation based on systematic procedures that will help us attain our goals. The policy implementation tools include initiatives that seek to manage discharges to the marine environment in a more sustainable manner, complete the relevant regulatory frameworks, and respond to environmental emergencies in accordance with the national policies, programs and plans of the United Arab Emirates, as well as the local plans of the emirate of Abu Dhabi,” Shaikha Salem further added.