Sharjah museums observe World Oceans Day

As part of worldwide celebrations of the World Oceans Day, Sharjah Museums Department SMD organized on Thursday 7 June a special ceremony at Sharjah Aquarium to mark the occasion in the presence of a large number of SMD’s officials and representatives from Fishermen Society, marine and health clubs, and government agencies.

Running until 9 June, the event, which is held as part of SMD’s corporate social responsibility initiative “Because We Care”, coincides with the celebrations of Sharjah Maritime Museum of the 3^rd anniversary of its opening.

Announcing the importance of the occasion, SMD said that it is always keen to organize an array of events and activities specially designed to mark the World Oceans Day with the aim of highlighting the crucial role of oceans in human and marine lives as well as the various ways in which oceans contribute to society.

The Department said that the World Oceans Day provides an opportunity to get directly involved in protecting marine environment, and hence it is organizing a range of educational programs, workshops and other planned activities, that aim to raise consciousness about the importance of individual and community action and their involvement in such a global environmental day, as well as the need to preserve marine resources.

The event program includes educational and entertaining workshops, showing a documentary on marine life, a photo exhibition presented by Sheikh Sultan bin Megren featuring illustrations that highlight risks and challenges facing oceans, as well as climate change and the effects of pollution on oceans.

The program also includes a symposium during which a number of specialists will speak about marine environment, environmental hazards, global warming and climate change, among other important topics.

Speakers include Sheikh Sultan bin Megren, President of the Emirates Weightlifting Federation, Chairman and Founder of UAE Samawy Expedition and Samawy Marine, and also member of the Executive Bureau of the Union of Arab National Olympic Committees, who spoke about marine environment and its association with climate.

Among speakers also was Juma’a Bin Khalifa Ahmed Bin Thalith, Director of the Emirates Diving Association’s Heritage Section, who highlighted environmental pollution in some areas in the UAE and the role of the Ministry of Environment in conservation of marine environment.

On his part, Abdullah Bu Ali, Head of the Environment Protection Section at Sharjah Municipality, spoke about environmental hazards caused by oil pollution, global warming and climate change, as well as about water drainage, the importance of control and effective community participation in order to ensure safe environment.

The celebration program also included a tour of the aquarium where the participating visitors got familiarized with marine organisms and the UAE’s marine environment which is rich in its various kinds of sea creatures and fish species.

The visitors toured water tunnels and bridges which are equipped with the sophisticated technologies as per the latest international systems, to view more than 120 species of marine creatures, rare kinds of fish and colored fish.

At the end of the celebrations, the participants were honored.