Divers lift waste from bed of historic harbor

Kuwait Dive Team of The Environmental Voluntary Foundation lifted large quantities of metal and plastic waste, besides trash, and dead fish littering bed of Al-Shamlan harbor, close to Souk Sharq commercial mall. Head of Kuwait Dive Team Waleed Al-Fadel told KUNA on Wednesday such "uncivilized dumping of waste" by fishermen and seamen causes serious pollution to the harbor. Al-Shamlan habor, located in center of Kuwait City, is one of Kuwait's landmark historical sites. He called on the fishermen to abstain from throwing waste in the sea, and put them instead in appropriate places, recommending the responsible authorities toughen penalties on violators. Environment Public Authority (EPA) has reported violations by a number of fishermen and boats' owners not abiding by the environmental regulations at the harbr, Deputy Director General for Technical Affairs at EPA, Mohammad Al-Enezi, said. Public Authority of Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAF) should tighten supervision and sanctions on such practices, he said. Minimum charge of any violation on to the Kuwaiti maritime environment is valued at KD 500, while the maximum pentalty reaches KD 5,000. A team consisting of Kuwait Municipality, Kuwait Fisherman Association and Kuwait Ports Authority cooperated in lifting waste from the harbor bed.