The Environment Authority, through its Environment Department in Al Batinah North Governorate, has initiated the first phase of a coral reef development project in the Wilayat of Suhar. This phase involved the deployment of 100 environmentally friendly marine modules designed to foster new habitats for marine life, improve biodiversity, and support ecosystem sustainability along with local fish stocks.

Eng Nasser bin Hamoud al Yaquobi, Director of the Environment Department in Al Batinah North, explained that the modules were placed at depths reaching up to nine meters below sea level, covering an area roughly 20 by 15 meters. He described the initiative as one of several environmental interventions aimed at creating favorable conditions for coral reefs to grow and for marine organisms to settle around these artificial structures.

The project is expected to enhance the marine environment by supporting coral growth and providing shelter for juvenile and larval marine species, which could boost their reproduction and development. This, in turn, aims to contribute to maintaining the ecological balance in the region by protecting and nurturing fish stocks.

Regular monitoring will be conducted at the deployment site to evaluate environmental changes, coral reef development, and marine organism activity. The project team plans to carry out periodic visits to observe how marine species adapt and settle around the modules. These observations will help assess the project's effectiveness and guide future phases of the initiative.

The ongoing monitoring and assessment are critical to understanding the environmental impact of the project and to informing adjustments for subsequent steps in the coral reef development efforts.