HUNTING for T R E A S U R E S! Clean Up Arabia. How lucky were the divers at Mamzar beach?) Edition 2 Vol. 1 August 2004

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1 Edition 2 Vol. 1 August Divers for the environment- T R E A S U R E S! HUNTING for How lucky were the divers at Mamzar beach?) Clean Up Arabia SEPTEMBER 17TH! YOU can make a Difference!" Plus! Interview with DTCM, Gala Dinner Photos, Facts about Seas & Oceans, Jokes and more

Dear Reader, It is always nice to be successful,

events with more than 300 people who attended

could tell that people were proud to be an EDA

Lots of new things happened at this year's Gala

Salsa (Thanks to Jimmy), we listened to some

People won some fantastic prizes through our

Emirates Towers who helped to prepare this Gala

But, I have to say, it was amazing to see the

the exhibition, I believe this was the highlight

night was seeing divers out of their diving gear

2 Dear Reader, It is always nice to be successful, but I believe it is much nicer to share the success with the people who made I sot. I felt so proud when I shared EDA's successful events with more than 300 people who attended our annual Gala dinner for the year 2004, I could tell that people were proud to be an EDA member. Lots of new things happened at this year's Gala dinner; we saw scuba divers trying to dance Salsa (Thanks to Jimmy), we listened to some great talks from Bill (DSDC) and Ahmad bin Byat (EDA) & from our guest of honour Mr. Guwen Romero. People won some fantastic prizes through our raffle and I am grateful to the people at Emirates Towers who helped to prepare this Gala Dinner. But, I have to say, it was amazing to see the diving industry come together & participate in the exhibition, I believe this was the highlight of the night, hold on wait, my highlight of the night was seeing divers out of their diving gear or shorts, & all dressed up. I didn t even recognize some of them. Ladies & Gentlemen, you were stunning and I m sure you all broke hearts that night. I want to say again "Thank you, shukran" to all of you who supported and helped to make EDA successful, and I promise all of you that we will keep up the good work. Eco Regards, Ibrahim N. Al-Zu'bi Director -Environment & Research Dept. Emirates Diving Association.

Recent Event EDA s 4 th Annual Treasure Hunt Diving Competition EDA teamed up with the Dubai Police at Al Mamzar beach on July 30 th to host an Underwater Treasure

Divers lined up along the shore edge and waited in anticipation for the signal to be given, allowing divers (after completing buddy check) to race into the water and

Efforts were hampered by the poor visibility underwater as the silt/sand was stirred up and divers groped blindly on the sandy bottom.

Gurt & Fiona with recovered bricks (incl. a brick from the previous year) 2. EDA divers entering the water 3. EDA staff ready to give away the prizes on the stadium.

3 Recent Event EDA s 4 th Annual Treasure Hunt Diving Competition EDA teamed up with the Dubai Police at Al Mamzar beach on July 30 th to host an Underwater Treasure Hunt for EDA members, friends and families. Divers lined up along the shore edge and waited in anticipation for the signal to be given, allowing divers (after completing buddy check) to race into the water and begin their search. With exciting prizes on offer, divers were full of hope, complete with torches and compasses to increase their chances of success. Efforts were hampered by the poor visibility underwater as the silt/sand was stirred up and divers groped blindly on the sandy bottom. Some lucky individuals retrieved the numbered bricks and brought a maximum of 3 each back to the shore. Photos (left clockwise) 1.Gurt & Fiona with recovered bricks (incl. a brick from the previous year) 2. EDA divers entering the water 3. EDA staff ready to give away the prizes on the stadium. Everyone gathered at the stadium where the divers placed their hands in the lucky dip to see what prizes they had won! Some won more than 1 DVD player and our youngest member won 2 irons. other prizes included underwater cameras, scooters, microwaves, diving fins, and much more. If you regret not being there well you ll just have to wait for We look forward to next year already!!

CURRENT PROJECT UPDATES! Many thanks to all those who took part and made the day as enjoyable as it was!

The Car Cemetery will be the next location to receive 2 mooring buoys.

Reef Monitoring The Reef Monitoring Committee (RMC) completed their training last July.

Aside from the plentiful floating rubbish there was lots of SI & SD (see table) to see and surprisingly some HC (incl. table coral).

The divers were paired up and executed either the: fish, invertebrate, or substrate identification survey.

4 CURRENT PROJECT UPDATES! Many thanks to all those who took part and made the day as enjoyable as it was! Mooring buoy Update Additional dive sites have now been scheduled to receive a system of mooring buoys. The Car Cemetery will be the next location to receive 2 mooring buoys. Extra weight will also be placed on the existing mooring at Martini Rock due to the larger boats now using the area. Reef Monitoring The Reef Monitoring Committee (RMC) completed their training last July. July 1 st : The Committee of 7 met at Open Beach, Jumeriah and practiced their skills at monitoring the substrate (ground material). Aside from the plentiful floating rubbish there was lots of SI & SD (see table) to see and surprisingly some HC (incl. table coral). July 22 nd : The RMC met at Dibba, East Coast to perform a mock reef-monitoring survey. The divers were paired up and executed either the: fish, invertebrate, or substrate identification survey. The day was rounded up with a visit to the fish farm near by. Substrate Type Hard Coral Soft coral Recently Killed Coral Nutrient Indicator Algae Sponge Rock Rubble Sand Silt/Clay Other Code HC SC RKC NIA SP RC RB SD SI OT EDA would like to give many thanks to Edwin Heynes and his colleagues who gave us a superb and interactive tour of the fish farm! FIRST SURVEY: 12 th August at Dibba Rock. This is a Marine Reserve on the East Coast. The data collected will be published on our website at

Staff members of the Emirates Diving Association

Agriculture & Fisheries (Dr Osama Wahba) were

passing the magestic mountains of Ras Al Khaimah.

of Ser Bani Yas, Sheikh Zayed s Island; a marine

Our last port was Dubai via Abu Dhabi to celebrate

The programme for the youths included: team games,

5 Staff members of the Emirates Diving Association (Laura Bates & Mohammad Bitar) and the Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries (Dr Osama Wahba) were invited to participate on a boat cruise organised for U.A.E. youths by the Ministry Youth & Leisure 1 st -4 th August. The four day event. departed from Ajman harbour and headed north, passing the magestic mountains of Ras Al Khaimah. A 12 hour cruise then took us south to the Island of Ser Bani Yas, Sheikh Zayed s Island; a marine reserve with plentiful marine sea grass. Our last port was Dubai via Abu Dhabi to celebrate National U.A.E. day. The programme for the youths included: team games, drama productions (covering drugs, the elderly and wealth & power) and folklore dancing. The activities were interspersed with environmental/educational initiatives. Dr Osama delivered lectures on the types & importance of corals, Mohammad gave everyone an introduction to scuba and Laura introduced them to life under the ocean (showing specimens of sea grass, sea urchins and sponges).

CLEAN UP ARABIA Clean Up Arabia is a project held in conjunction with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) Regional Office of West Africa (ROWA), the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries,

The campaign aims to clean the marine environment from pollution in addition to developing the public s attitude to maintaining a clean and sound environment through practice and participation.

6 CLEAN UP ARABIA Clean Up Arabia is a project held in conjunction with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) Regional Office of West Africa (ROWA), the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Clean Up the World and International Coastal Clean Up (ICC). The campaign has years of experience around the world, co-coordinating groups, who come together for the good of the earth. The campaign aims to clean the marine environment from pollution in addition to developing the public s attitude to maintaining a clean and sound environment through practice and participation. This year the event will be held on the Friday 17th September 2004 at the Le Meridian Al Aqah Beach Resort (Dibba, Fujeirah) on the East Coast of the U.A.E. If you would like to travel to the east coast, Thursday 16th, special corporate rates have been negotiated with the Meridian Hotel for participants in the clean up. All EDA members & volunteers are encouraged to come & help clean the beaches and celebrate everyone s environmental initiatives. Divers wishing to clean under the seas should bring their own diving equipment although diving tanks, weights & boats will be provided if required (contact East Coast Coordinator: Laura Bates projects@emiratesdiving.com Tel: ). Fear not, the event won t all be hard work. Participants will have time to relax and play volley ball, enjoy a bbq and of course snorkel the fantastic marine life the East Coast has to offer. If you are unable to attend the event on the east coast, a clean up will be held in Abu Dhabi (contact Mrs. Kathleen Russell marinesports@masaood.com Tel: for further details). Photo (i): Turtles are frequently seen along the East Coast; U.A.E. Discarded nets can be fatal to these creatures. Photo (ii): Plastic bags in the marine environment often mimic jellyfish, the primary prey of the green turtle. As a result turtles die after ingesting the plastic. Photos source: stories/s2093.htm

SUCCESS IN OCTOBER 2003 Clean up Arabia 2003 was a success.

A sample of the items collected was recorded on data sheets provided by The Ocean Conservancy. The results can be seen below.

Recycled plastic takes 70% less energy to produce than new plastic (www.cleanup.com.au).

7 SUCCESS IN OCTOBER 2003 Clean up Arabia 2003 was a success. The beach clean up had over 30 volunteer participants, many of whom were school children with their families; collecting debris found on the beach stretching approx. 500 meters. A sample of the items collected was recorded on data sheets provided by The Ocean Conservancy. The results can be seen below. Plastic Bags were the most commonly found item, followed by ropes and plastic bottles. Plastic does not decompose and as a result the amount of plastic in the environment increases each year. Recycled plastic takes 70% less energy to produce than new plastic ( If not recycled the lightweight, moisture resistant bags float easily in air & on water traveling huge distances. The potential devastation to marine wildlife has been recognized by Denmark & Ireland who have placed a levy on plastic bags to reduce consumption. Perhaps Dubai should too? Top 12 Items from Beach Clean Up (Composed by Edwin Heynes) Debris items Total No. Percent 1. Plastic Bags Ropes Plastic Bottles Glass Bottles Fishing line, nets Caps, Lids Building Materials Beverage cans Buoys, floats Clothing, shoes Wood Food Wrappers 10 3 Grand Total %

Pearls of Wisdom: A Three-Part Series of Interviews with Key Individuals in Dubai s Development With Open Arms: Is the DTCM s Tourism Agenda that Good for the Environment?

Speed and aggression cause accidents that only further strain the traffic flow. The city currently supports four million tourists in addition to the growing number of residents.

8 Pearls of Wisdom: A Three-Part Series of Interviews with Key Individuals in Dubai s Development With Open Arms: Is the DTCM s Tourism Agenda that Good for the Environment? Most Dubai residents are acutely aware of the traffic congestion in and around the city. Commuting times increase as the roadways support more and more vehicles. Speed and aggression cause accidents that only further strain the traffic flow. The city currently supports four million tourists in addition to the growing number of residents. Can you imagine the traffic problem when the number of tourists will increase by 375% in just five years?! Gulp. The Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) is hoping to welcome 15 million tourists by the end of the decade. As one of the arms of the government and a key component of the non-oil sector of gross domestic product, tourism is very important to Dubai. According to Afra Al Fahim, Deputy Manager of Business Development at DTCM, the vision statement of the department says it all: to position Dubai as the leading tourism destination and commercial hub in the world. Definitely an exciting goal, but how can the city manage this many people? Already the number of tourists is outstripping the number of hotel rooms available. Al Fahim noted this year s Dubai Shopping Festival tourists were forced to find accommodation in Sharjah. While this was beneficial for the neighbouring emirate, Dubai would prefer to house visitors close to the action. What this requires is an incredible amount of construction, in hotels, roadways, shopping centres, sports centres and so on. All of which places a greater strain upon the physical and living environment. In my interview with Al Fahim I wanted to find out what approach the DTCM takes toward the environment. I had read on their website ( that the department aims to strengthen the Dubai economy through the development of sustainable tourism. When asked what this means, Al Fahim was unable to provide a concise definition and instead mentioned a few of DTCM s environmentally-related activities. In particular,

the Environmental Task Force (ETF) a committee of individuals from independent hoteliers and tour operators, and the DTCM was established in 2001 to identify environmentally sustainable practices in

While Al Fahim was correct in her assertion that the ETF has the potential to be proactive, it remained unclear whether the conclusions of the body become standards for all to follow, or remain

9 the Environmental Task Force (ETF) a committee of individuals from independent hoteliers and tour operators, and the DTCM was established in 2001 to identify environmentally sustainable practices in the field of tourism. While Al Fahim was correct in her assertion that the ETF has the potential to be proactive, it remained unclear whether the conclusions of the body become standards for all to follow, or remain suggestions adopted by the more conscientious. Before construction can begin on any new building an environmental impact assessment must be submitted to Dubai Municipality (DM). Of course, what is stated on paper does not always come into being. The DTCM has a wonderful opportunity to implement high environmental standards at the level of operation because they issue the required licenses. However, of all the areas covered in the DM s environmental impact assessment, the only one the DTCM actively inspects is health and cleanliness. That said, it is encouraging to know that anyone can file a complaint against an hotelier or tour operator for unhygienic and/or unclean practices. In fact, the department should encourage people to alert them to any environmentally unsound operation. This is only possible if individuals know what to look for. Al Fahim sees a marked difference between foreigners and locals in their awareness toward the environment and sustainability. Photo: Ms. Afra Al Fahim According to her, people from abroad are well educated in comparison to locals who can be careless due to their lack of knowledge; though she notes an improvement of late. Toward this end the ETF is involved in awareness campaigns and cleanups. When I asked what makes Dubai so great, Al Fahim enthusiastically replied, Everything! The cosmopolitan nature of the city combined with the expansive desert, rugged terrain, and crystal blue waters are appealing to many. If Dubai wants to continue marketing its natural resources it will have to manage them appropriately. This includes implementing sustainable and truly proactive practices in accommodating and entertaining the millions of visitors set to arrive. The DTCM has a significant role to play in this and while some initiatives have been made, there is room to do more. By Aimee Holmes

Litter Litter You Can Make A Difference!

Choose items with less plastic packaging when shopping. Recycle as much rubbish as possible (don t just throw it in the bin).

Take part in Beach Clean-Ups (especially EDA s clean up on the 17 th September ) Impacts of Marine Litter.

Entanglement can result in serious injury, death by starvation and drowning or suffocation.

Balloons, plastic bags, plastic pellets are mistakenly ingested resulting in infections, bioaccumulation of toxic substances associated with

10 Litter Litter You Can Make A Difference! To keep our beaches & seas litter free ensure that you, your family, friends & colleagues: Dispose of waste responsibly, and never drop litter. Choose items with less plastic packaging when shopping. Recycle as much rubbish as possible (don t just throw it in the bin). Bag it and Bin It NEVER flush plastic sanitary waste down the toilet. Take part in Beach Clean-Ups (especially EDA s clean up on the 17 th September ) Impacts of Marine Litter. Over 100 species of marine vertebrates and some invertebrate species have been reported entangled in marine litter worldwide. Entanglement can result in serious injury, death by starvation and drowning or suffocation. Some pieces of litter may be ingested by marine species and sea birds. Balloons, plastic bags, plastic pellets are mistakenly ingested resulting in infections, bioaccumulation of toxic substances associated with plastic, fatal blockages of an animal s digestive system and starvation. In addition, marine litter is unsightly and beach users and divers seek out areas free of debris. Decomposing How long does it take? Take a guess how long some items take to decompose naturally:- a. Aluminium cans? b. Paper? c. Tin cans? d. Plastic bags? e. Milk Cartons? f. Cigarette filter? g. Orange peels/banana skins? h. Plastic containers? Approximate Answers: a years b. 2-5years c. 50 years d years e. 5 years f. Up to years g. Up to 2 years h years

AQUATIC REALM Divers can be conscientious protectors of the underwater environment! How Divers Can Protect the Aquatic Realm (As suggested by PADI for Project A.W.A.R.E.) 1.

Consider your impact on aquatic life through your interactions. 5. Understand and respect underwater life. 6. Resist the urge to collect souvenirs. 7.

11 AQUATIC REALM Divers can be conscientious protectors of the underwater environment! How Divers Can Protect the Aquatic Realm (As suggested by PADI for Project A.W.A.R.E.) 1. Dive carefully in fragile aquatic ecosystems, such as coral reefs. 2. Be aware of your body and equipment placement when diving. 3. Keep your diving skills sharp with continuing education. 4. Consider your impact on aquatic life through your interactions. 5. Understand and respect underwater life. 6. Resist the urge to collect souvenirs. 7. If you hunt and/or gather game, obey all fish and game laws. 8. Be a role model for other divers in diving and non-diving interactions with the environment. 9. Report environmental disturbances or destruction of your dive sites (to EDA). 10. Get involved in local environmental activities and issues.

10 Key Facts About Seas & Oceans 1. Oceans cover 70% of the Earth s surface. 2. More than 90% of the plant s living biomass is found in the ocean. 3.

12 10 Key Facts About Seas & Oceans 1. Oceans cover 70% of the Earth s surface. 2. More than 90% of the plant s living biomass is found in the ocean % of all pollution in seas and oceans comes from land-based activities (from coastal waters & rivers carrying assorted rubbish from far inland) % of the world s population lives within 60kilometers of a coast. 5. Three-quarters of the world mega-cities are by the sea. 6. By 2010, 80% of people will live within 100km of the coast. 7. Death & disease caused by polluted coastal waters costs the global economy US $12.8 billion a year. 8. Plastic waste kills up to 1 million sea birds, 100,000 sea mammals and countless fish each year. 9. Sea creatures killed by plastic decompose, the plastic does not! Plastic remains in the ecosystem to kill again and again!! 10. Harmful algal blooms, caused by an excess of nutrients mainly nitrogen from agricultural fertilizers have created nearly 150 coastal deoxygenated dead zones world wide, ranging from 1 to 70,000 square kilometres. (Source: UNEP 2004 ww.unep.org )

Sustainable Development..Worth Pursing! 50 years ago scientists and concerned activists in the West professed that humankind has a profound impact upon the environment.

13 Sustainable Development..Worth Pursing! 50 years ago scientists and concerned activists in the West professed that humankind has a profound impact upon the environment. Not only that, they argued that human activity is not sustainable or in other words, our actions will eventually outstrip that which Mother Nature can support. Soon thereafter it was recognized that this problem would be best solved on an international level. The reason for this is two fold: one, pollution does not care about national borders and can travel many kilometres from the source; and two, implementing eco-friendly practices can cause lower productivity levels so countries will be more apt to comply if they re assured other countries are doing the same. In 1982 the United Nations commissioned a team of international experts to find the best way to balance the legitimate concerns of the environment with their member states needs to progress. Released five years later, the Brundtland Report (named after the team s Chairwoman Gro Harlem Brundtland) popularized the notion of sustainable development (SD). The beauty of this idea is that it still allows for development, albeit a more environmentally friendly one. Instead of saying No!, SD says, Yes, and this is how. The hallmarks of SD are its future-oriented vision and emphasis on morality. SD is development that meets the need of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. 1 In other words, we have a moral responsibility to give the world to the next generation as it was given to us. The problem is that we may not realize the world we give is actually quite different from the one we received, simply because environmental deterioration can take so long to show noticeable effects. Another difficulty is that it takes an incredible amount of coordination between nations to address the issue adequately and fairly. One strategy would be to impose universal standards of pollution control. Developing countries have argued that this isn t fair as they do not contribute as much to the degradation of the environment so they should not be punished by sacrificing their own economic and industrial growth. A more supportive 1 Greene, Owen (1999). Environmental Issues, Chapter 16 in Baylis and Smith (eds.) The Globalization of World Politics, Oxford University Press. approach is for developed countries to assist developing ones with information sharing and financial assistance so they do not have to make the same ecologically unfriendly mistakes. To this end, the 1992 Rio Earth Summit saw 150 states seated at the discussion table the largest gathering of state leaders in history. This is evidence that the environment question is of widespread importance and SD is worth pursuing. It might make more sense to coordinate efforts on a regional basis where environmental problems are more likely to be shared and implementation can be better monitored. The UAE is involved in a number of regional agreements, including ROPME and UNEP-ROWA. Do you know about either of them or how you as an individual can get involved? Go find out via the following links if not for you, then for your grandchildren!! By Aimee Holmes Intern. -EDA

Info.. Riddles a) What can run but never walks, has a mouth but never talks, has a head but never weeps, has a bed, but never sleeps?

Cigarette filters are not biodegradable.

designed to trap leak out into aquatic ecosystems, threatening the quality of the water and many aquatic life forms. Cigarette filters may seem small, but with an estimated 4.

14 Info.. Riddles a) What can run but never walks, has a mouth but never talks, has a head but never weeps, has a bed, but never sleeps? b) The part of a bird that s not in the sky, it can swim in the ocean and yet remains dry. What is it? (Source: Did you know? Cigarette filters are not biodegradable. After the filter gets casually flicked on the street, nature trail or beach the wind and rain typically carry the cigarette into a watercourse, where the toxic chemicals that the cigarette filter was designed to trap leak out into aquatic ecosystems, threatening the quality of the water and many aquatic life forms. Cigarette filters may seem small, but with an estimated 4.5 trillion butts littered every year, the toxic chemicals add up. NEW WEBSITE!! If you haven t heard, EDA now have a new, totally revamped website. If you ve not seen it, check out Pick Up Ten! Every time you re on the beach try to pick up 10 pieces of litter...no more..no less. The trick is to make it a HABIT and encourage others to do their part too. Together we can have a cleaner coastline! Answers to Riddles: a) A River b) A Bird s Shadow. What did the sea say to the sand?.. Nothing it just waved.

An Introduction to AMCAI! Pioneered by Caroline Walsh, AMCAI was launched in 2001.

In addition, it hopes to make people aware of the direct & indirect economic, tourist and educational benefits of encouraging physically challenged and other identified groups to participate in

15 An Introduction to AMCAI! Pioneered by Caroline Walsh, AMCAI was launched in It was pioneered efforts to allow all persons, regardless of physical ability to be able to participate in Marine Conservation. In addition, it hopes to make people aware of the direct & indirect economic, tourist and educational benefits of encouraging physically challenged and other identified groups to participate in Marine Conservation. The organisation has experience in surveying marine habitats and species, particularly, baseline surveys of sea grass beds, pipefish and sea horses. In particular Caroline gained experience in carrying out survey work on coral reefs whilst conducting her undergraduate and postgraduate projects on The Health of the Coral Reefs in Aqaba in Jordan from AMCAI have gathered in Cyprus, Bonaire & the UK. Efforts are currently being made by EDA to host AMCAI in Dubai at the end of the year and facilitate the reef monitoring committee and their studies. AMCAI also hope to collaborate with the Pavilion Dive Centre and develop a training program for disabled divers. For more information please Caroline: C.A.Walsh@btinternet.com or check out their website at: EDA Internship EDA would like to formally welcome Aimee Holmes to Dubai. Originally from Canada, Aimee is currently completing a Masters Degree in Global Studies and has been studying in Germany, South Africa and India before reaching the UAE. She hopes to develop an understanding of sustainable development in Dubai whilst gaining a greater appreciation for environmental issues. Forth-Coming Events 8 th September: First talk organized for EDA Members with Dr Imad Haffar from Nakheel at the Dusit Hotel! 16 th -17 th September: Clean Up Arabia

EDA. - Divers for the Environment -

EDA. - Divers for the Environment - EDA Edition 1 Vol. 1 May 2004 - Divers for the Environment - v EDA is an environmental voluntary organization established in 1995. v Over 200 diving members support EDA. v EDA is now focusing efforts into