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Saudi Arabia Launches Major Project to Protect Marine Ecosystems in Arabian Gulf

The vast Saudi waters in the Arabian Gulf, spanning over 27,000 square kilometers, are a haven for a diverse array of marine life. SPA
The vast Saudi waters in the Arabian Gulf, spanning over 27,000 square kilometers, are a haven for a diverse array of marine life. SPA
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Saudi Arabia Launches Major Project to Protect Marine Ecosystems in Arabian Gulf

The vast Saudi waters in the Arabian Gulf, spanning over 27,000 square kilometers, are a haven for a diverse array of marine life. SPA
The vast Saudi waters in the Arabian Gulf, spanning over 27,000 square kilometers, are a haven for a diverse array of marine life. SPA

Saudi Arabia is launching a groundbreaking project to assess the health of its vital ecosystems in the Arabian Gulf, in a significant step toward safeguarding its marine treasures.

Led by the National Center for Wildlife (NCW), the project aims to create a comprehensive roadmap for protecting marine biodiversity and ensuring the long-term health of the Gulf waters.

NCW CEO Dr. Mohammed Qurban said in a statement that scientists will evaluate the condition of the coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and mangrove forests.

They will identify both natural and human-caused threats to these habitats, and develop strategies to mitigate these risks. Ultimately, the project will use the collected data to design a management plan for the conservation and restoration of the coastal ecosystems.

Qurban said the vast Saudi waters in the Arabian Gulf, spanning over 27,000 square kilometers, are a haven for a diverse array of marine life, all supported by the rich ecosystems of the Gulf. The project will ensure that these vital habitats continue to thrive for generations to come.

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Latest Tests Show Seine Water Quality Was Substandard When Paris Mayor Took a Dip

Boats carrying members of delegations sail along the Seine during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 26, 2024. (AFP)
Boats carrying members of delegations sail along the Seine during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 26, 2024. (AFP)
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Latest Tests Show Seine Water Quality Was Substandard When Paris Mayor Took a Dip

Boats carrying members of delegations sail along the Seine during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 26, 2024. (AFP)
Boats carrying members of delegations sail along the Seine during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 26, 2024. (AFP)

Tests results released Friday showed the water quality in the River Seine was slightly below the standards needed to authorize swimming — just as the Paris Olympics start.

Heavy rain during the opening ceremony revived concerns over whether the long-polluted waterway will be clean enough to host swimming competitions, since water quality is deeply linked with the weather in the French capital.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo took a highly publicized dip last week in a bid to ease fears. The Seine will be used for marathon swimming and triathlon.

Daily water quality tests measure levels of fecal bacteria known as E. coli.

Tests by monitoring group Eau de Paris show that at the Bras Marie, E. coli levels were then above the safe limit of 900 colony-forming units per 100 milliliters determined by European rules on June 17, when the mayor took a dip.

The site reached a value of 985 on the day the mayor swam with Paris 2024 chief Tony Estanguet and the top government official for the Paris region, Marc Guillaume, joined her, along with swimmers from local swimming clubs.

At two other measuring points further downstream, the results were below the threshold.

The statement by Paris City Hall and the prefecture of the Paris region noted that water quality last week was in line with European rules six days out of seven on the site which is to host the Olympic swimming competitions.

It noted that "the flow of the Seine is highly unstable due to regular rainfall episodes and remains more than twice the usual flow in summer," explaining fluctuating test results.

Swimming in the Seine has been banned for over a century. Since 2015, organizers have invested $1.5 billion to prepare the Seine for the Olympics and to ensure Parisians have a cleaner river after the Games. The plan included constructing a giant underground water storage basin in central Paris, renovating sewer infrastructure, and upgrading wastewater treatment plants.