Kuwait reaffirms commitment to protect sea turtles on World Turtle Day
Kuwait Diving Team, EPA lead efforts to protect sea turtles and marine life
Coinciding with World Turtle Day, observed annually on May 23, Kuwait’s Environment Public Authority (EPA) reaffirmed its commitment to protecting marine life, especially sea turtles, through strengthened conservation efforts and compliance with international environmental agreements.
The authority said its work is guided by key global frameworks, including the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and regional commitments under the Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine Environment.
These efforts are reinforced by Kuwait’s Environmental Protection Law, which bans the hunting of wildlife, protects nesting sites, and supports dedicated agreements aimed at conserving sea turtles and their habitats.
The EPA stressed that these legal and international frameworks form the foundation of Kuwait’s broader strategy to preserve marine biodiversity and restore fragile coastal ecosystems.
Meanwhile, the Kuwaiti diving team of the Al-Mubarra Voluntary Environmental Foundation renewed its commitment to protecting sea turtles through ongoing field operations and public awareness campaigns across Kuwait’s waters, Al-Rai daily reports.
Team leader Waleed Al-Fadhel told the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that the team continues to rescue stranded and injured turtles, including those trapped in abandoned fishing nets known as “ghost nets,” which often lead to injury or drowning.
He added that the team also rehabilitates injured turtles in coordination with scientific and medical authorities before releasing them back into the sea, while stressing that plastic waste remains one of the most serious threats to their survival.
