Awareness
campaign sponsored by Total and Total Abu Al Bukhoosh (ABK)-
Abu Dhabi, October 20, 2014: The Environment Agency –Abu Dhabi (EAD), in partnership with Total and Total Abu Al Bukhoosh (ABK), launched
the dugong education and awareness campaign today at Al Mamoura Auditorium, at
EAD’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi. The campaigns aims to raise awareness on the
current threats that affect the dugong population found in Abu Dhabi, and how
to provide the dugongs with a safe haven to live and breed.
During the kick-off of the campaign, Ahmed
Baharoon, EAD’s Executive Director, Environmental Information, Science &
Outreach Management spoke on behalf of H.E. Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Secretary
General of EAD, and Mr. Sultan Al Hajji, Vice President & Chief Strategy
Officer, Total E&P UAE, emphasised the importance of their continuous joint
efforts in conserving the dugong population, protecting its habitat, and
monitoring and studying their biological and geographical distribution in the
UAE’s waters.
Commenting on the launch of the campaign, H.E.
Al Mubarak, Secretary General of EAD, said: "Through this campaign, we aim
to raise environmental awareness and educate the community on the importance of
protecting the dugongs, as the UAE waters are home to the second-largest population
of this species in the world. Through the support of Total and Total ABK, EAD
is successfully implementing its Dugong Conservation Programme, enabling the
Emirate of Abu Dhabi to provide a safe haven for this migrating species and
making the UAE for a leader in global dugong conservational efforts."
Throughout the coming months, EAD, Total, and
Total ABK, will organise interactive educational workshops and information
campaigns to educate middle-school and high-school students, the fishing
community and boat owners in Abu Dhabi and the Western Region, shoreline
industries and the general public. The campaign will also include a public
outreach programme through EAD’s social media platforms, along with a number of
family-oriented entertaining and educational activities in November 2014, to be
held at Mushrif Mall in Abu Dhabi.
Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Executive
Director of Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity at EAD, commented: “Since 1999,
EAD, Total, and Total ABK, have collaborated in conducting detailed studies on
the local dugong population. These studies have provided our teams with the data
that helps us better understand the behaviour and threats against the dugong
population. Dugongs are an endangered species and could be threatened with
extinction unless we conserve their habitat and prevent human interference.”
“One of the most important elements of our
conservation efforts is to inform and educate the public about marine life
found in Abu Dhabi. Through this campaign, we work together in order to protect
the dugong population,” Dr. Al Dhaheri added.
Mr. Hatem Nuseibeh, President Total E&P
UAE and Group Representative in the UAE, commented, “Total UAE and Total Abu Al
Bukhoosh are proud to be an ardent supporter in EAD’s dugong conservation
program by exclusively sponsoring since its launch in 1999. Thanks to EAD’s
efforts, today Abu Dhabi is a leader of international repute hosting the Dugong
Secretariat of Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) under United Nations
Environment Program (UNEP). Since 1939, Total has established a solid partnership
with the authorities and people of the UAE by sharing technology and
innovation, environment protection, capacity building of Emiratis and aligning
with the vision of the wise leadership of the UAE. We have an unwavering
commitment for the benefit of the UAE.”
Mr. Sultan Al Hajji, Vice President &
Chief Strategy Officer, Total E&P UAE, said, “Both Total and Total ABK as
responsible energy companies, contribute to the welfare of the host country in
all aspects including environment conservation. Under the wise leadership of
H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the United Arab
Emirates and the guidance of H.H. General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan,
Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces,
Total UAE and Total Abu Al Bukhoosh demonstrate their solidarity by partnering
with EAD in the noble cause of preserving the delicate biodiversity of the
Emirates. This is one of the ways of expressing our sincere gratitude and
appreciation for the UAE.”
Significant effort has been made by the UAE
and EAD in the conservation of the dugong population. In 2002, EAD banned drift
net fishing practices in shallow waters to prevent dugongs and turtles from
becoming entangled in the nets. On a national front, the UAE issued Federal Law
No. 23 and 24 in 1999 to protect dugongs from exploitation. In support of
international efforts, the UAE was one of the first Middle Eastern countries to
sign the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) agreement in
2007 on the conservation and management of dugongs and their habitat. The
Dugong Memorandum of Understanding, which falls under International Union for
Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Convention on Migratory
Species (CMS), is implemented through the CMS Secretariat office hosted by
EAD since 2009 on behalf of the UAE’s Government.
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