Staff Reporter :
In a bid to create mass awareness among the islanders and tourists about the dangers of marine debris, some marine-related organizations observed the week-long “Underwater Cleanup Week 2014” at Saint Martin’s Island that concluded on Monday.
Save Our Sea (SOS), Marine Conservation Group and Dive Bangladesh jointly carried out the annual week-long event held under the sponsorship of Mangroves for the Future (MFF) and Oceanic Scuba Diving Center.
With the theme ‘Green City for Green Sea’, Scuba Divers collected debris from the depth of the sea in specially made bags by a number of teams of marine conservationists and volunteers.
Talking to The New Nation on Tuesday, Coordinator of the SOS Mohammad Arju said during the week-long programme they have observed a rapidly degrading marine ecosystem in the bay. “The bay is losing its coral community and other important habitats due to marine litter and acidification,” he said.
Briefing about their experiences, he said, “Every trash and debris from cities make their way into the sea. If recycling of non-biodegradable trash cannot be ensured, threats to marine biodiversity in the coastal Bay of Bengal will remain at dangerous level.”
Coordinator of Dive Bangladesh SM Atiqur Rahman hoped that due to comparatively low turnout of tourists at Saint Martin’s in the late season, the island is becoming more environmentally conscious. As usual, plastic bags, fishing nets, bottles and cups are the most abundant items that usually found in the sea, he added.
SOS organises the event every year since 2001 at Saint Martin’s island, under the guidance of international Ocean Conservation Group — Project AWARE.
In a bid to create mass awareness among the islanders and tourists about the dangers of marine debris, some marine-related organizations observed the week-long “Underwater Cleanup Week 2014” at Saint Martin’s Island that concluded on Monday.
Save Our Sea (SOS), Marine Conservation Group and Dive Bangladesh jointly carried out the annual week-long event held under the sponsorship of Mangroves for the Future (MFF) and Oceanic Scuba Diving Center.
With the theme ‘Green City for Green Sea’, Scuba Divers collected debris from the depth of the sea in specially made bags by a number of teams of marine conservationists and volunteers.
Talking to The New Nation on Tuesday, Coordinator of the SOS Mohammad Arju said during the week-long programme they have observed a rapidly degrading marine ecosystem in the bay. “The bay is losing its coral community and other important habitats due to marine litter and acidification,” he said.
Briefing about their experiences, he said, “Every trash and debris from cities make their way into the sea. If recycling of non-biodegradable trash cannot be ensured, threats to marine biodiversity in the coastal Bay of Bengal will remain at dangerous level.”
Coordinator of Dive Bangladesh SM Atiqur Rahman hoped that due to comparatively low turnout of tourists at Saint Martin’s in the late season, the island is becoming more environmentally conscious. As usual, plastic bags, fishing nets, bottles and cups are the most abundant items that usually found in the sea, he added.
SOS organises the event every year since 2001 at Saint Martin’s island, under the guidance of international Ocean Conservation Group — Project AWARE.
