BARKA, Oman — A coordinated campaign was conducted to remove entangled fishing nets from the marine area around Jabal Al Sawadi following a report of sea turtles caught and dying in the debris. The Environment Authority in Al Batinah South Governorate, working alongside the Oman Sea Diving Team and the Municipality Department in Barka, responded promptly to the citizen’s alert.

The operation involved about 26 personnel, including 13 divers, who succeeded in extracting approximately 400 kilograms of fishing nets and ropes from the affected site. Authorities acted swiftly after receiving the notification, with preparations and coordination carried out to address the environmental hazard as a priority.

Hamoud bin Khamis al Nairi, Head of the Dimaniyat Islands Nature Reserve Centre, confirmed the citizen’s report concerning the entangled nets and the mortality of several sea turtles in the region. He emphasized the urgency of the intervention to prevent further harm to marine wildlife by removing and safely disposing of the discarded fishing gear.

Officials involved in the campaign have urged fishermen and other sea users to avoid abandoning nets and equipment in the marine environment to protect local ecosystems and prevent additional risks to marine animals.