Muscat: A trip for a group of divers revealed a major pollution problem on the beaches in the Governorate of Muscat. “I believe at the moment Muscat has a very serious marine disaster unfolding before us,” one of the divers said.
Diver Nill Abbot said: “Yesterday (24 June), I and my friend went with OmantaScuba on a trip to the Daymaniyat Islands. On the way to the island heading from Al Mouj, we noticed an odd thing floating in the water which I assumed were fishermen’s markers. However, as we got closer to the Daymaniyat Islands, we noticed more floating object. There was a bird resting and pecking away at the object.”
When we eventually stopped, we discovered they were bags of washing powder – big bags – with little bags inside. He explained: “There was probably 100 floating bags but even worse was when the bags had split open. It was like a minefield.”
When the divers reached a site known as black top reef, they started to find bags on the bottom broken open. He said: “I don’t know what all this washing powder will do to the fish – let alone the plastic to turtles and whale sharks etc.”
Neil is a regular recreational diver who instructs for PDO Ras Al Hamra Sub Aqua Club. He is a diving guide for Euro divers. He added: “I hear that they have gone as far as Quriyat and fined the same – so that’s quite a distance from the Daymaniates to there.”
“We at RAHSAC pulled out over 100 small bags at Al Fahal Island and there were hundreds of small bags on the water and I would say we saw over 60 large bags floating around,” he continued. “I can just see this getting worse and wonder what the authorities (MECA) will do about it. Clearly the rangers on the Daymaniates island must have seen this. I didn’t see them on Friday but they normally come around to check your permits. Why have they not reported this and got people out there collecting the packets? Surely the fisherman could help. If this kills the fish then they will have no livelyhood or food.”
