The "Our Sea, Our Responsibility" initiative was launched to clean the Red Sea in Jeddah

Today, Jeddah witnessed the launch of a unique environmental event represented by the “Our Sea is Our Responsibility” initiative, which came through joint organization and direct support from the Emirate of Makkah Region, and the unification of efforts of a select group of governmental and environmental bodies, including the Saudi Red Sea Authority, the General Directorate of Border Guards, the Jeddah Governorate Municipality, the Saudi Federation for Marine Sports and Diving, the National Center for Wildlife Development, in addition to the General Authority for the Conservation of Coral Reefs and Turtles.

The importance of the Red Sea and the challenges of marine pollution

This field operation comes at a crucial historical and environmental juncture, as the Red Sea is one of the world's richest marine environments, boasting unique biodiversity and rare coral reefs that constitute a natural heritage for the Kingdom and the region. However, this delicate ecosystem has faced increasing challenges in recent decades due to human waste and discarded fishing gear, necessitating urgent action for its protection. This initiative gains its strategic importance from the fact that it goes beyond surface cleaning, delving deep to address the root causes of the problem that threatens the sustainability of marine life.

Details of field operations in “North Lakes City”

The initiative focused its operations in the "North Lakes City" area, where a well-structured field plan was implemented. This plan began with a thorough initial survey to estimate the amount of waste and identify its concentrations on the seabed. Specialized diving teams from participating agencies, possessing extensive experience and expertise, participated in the operation to ensure the removal of waste without damaging coral reefs or the surrounding environment, while adhering to the highest marine safety standards.

The procedures followed included:

• Precise geographical distribution of underwater divers to ensure comprehensive coverage of the target area.
• Sorting and classifying operations for waste as soon as it is extracted from the surface.
• Monitoring weights and types to document environmental impact and build a database to aid in future studies.
• Safe disposal of waste under joint technical supervision.

Tangible results and sustainable environmental impact

The intensive efforts yielded record results, with teams removing more than half a ton of debris and pollutants from the seabed. The most significant achievement was the removal of over 4,000 meters of long fishing lines (known as ghost nets), which pose a deadly trap for marine life and contribute to the destruction of coral reefs.

Local and international impact of the initiative

The impact of the “Our Sea, Our Responsibility” initiative extends beyond immediate clean-up efforts, encompassing strategic dimensions that serve the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 in terms of environmental sustainability and improving quality of life. Locally, the initiative contributes to raising public awareness about the importance of preserving marine resources and reinforces the principle of shared responsibility. Internationally, this step strengthens the Kingdom’s position as a leading nation in marine environmental protection, as the event will be registered globally as a deep-sea clean-up initiative, thus bolstering the Kingdom’s standing in global environmental indicators and safeguarding the potential of the “blue economy” and promising coastal tourism.