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ABU DHABI/AD MEDIA OFFICE
More than 250 passionate individuals employees, students, and community members, came together for a beach cleanup initiative at Al Bahya Beach – Al Sadr Slipway in Abu Dhabi, resulting in the collection of an impressive 961 kilograms of waste.
Organised in collaboration with Abu Dhabi City Municipality (ADM) and the Department of Education and Knowledge in Abu Dhabi (ADEK), Miral, and the Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue Center hosted the initiative to help protect the emirate’s marine ecosystems and mitigate damage caused by ocean waste. The effort promoted environmental stewardship and fostered a culture of sustainability within the community, aligning with the centre’s commitment to marine conservation in the region.
Participants learned about the environmental challenges posed by ocean waste, its impact on local wildlife, and the importance of waste reduction and proper disposal methods by the educators of centre who were stationed around the location. To showcase the significance of each volunteer’s contribution, the team guided participants through sorting and weighing the collected waste, demonstrating the tangible impact of their efforts.
Taghrid AlSaeed, Executive Director of Marketing, Communications and Events at Miral, said: “We are delighted to see the community band together and preserve our beautiful coastline. Our sustainability efforts reflect our ongoing commitment to delivering positive, long-term value to the communities in which we operate, in line with the core values of our Group Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy. Through initiatives like this beach cleanup, we aim to promote the importance of environmental conservation while engaging the community to become our sustainability partners. We are proud to co-host this initiative with Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue Center, showcasing the vital role of collaboration when addressing environmental challenges.”
Dr Elise Marquis, Director of the Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue Center, said: “I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to our valued partners and the community members who participated in this cleanup. Initiatives engaging the community and raising awareness on important challenges faced by the marine environment are part of the centre’s core missions. More than the clean-up itself, we are giving keys to the community for a more sustainable life with tips that everyone can use in their daily life to help protect the marine wildlife of the Arabian Gulf. This morning, each volunteer received a reusable water bottle and is encouraged to use it every day. Such individual action is crucial to reduce the number of plastic bottles and plastic caps ending up on our beaches and impacting the delicate balance of our ocean by slowly degrading into microplastics.”
As part of its commitment to protecting marine life and habitats, the Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue Center hosts frequent community events to raise awareness and encourage public participation in marine conservation. The centre aims to help any marine animal in need or at risk and urges community members to contact the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) on 800 555 if they spot animals in danger.