Muscat – As part of its ongoing efforts to protect the marine environment and promote sustainable practices, the Environment Authority (EA) has launched a public awareness campaign highlighting the dangers of plastic pollution to marine turtles, one of the country’s most important marine species.

The campaign aims to encourage the public to reduce plastic waste and adopt environmentally responsible habits to help preserve Oman’s rich marine biodiversity. Through educational messages shared across its social media platforms, the authority explains how discarded plastic items pose a serious risk to turtles throughout their life cycle.

According to the campaign, marine turtles often mistake floating plastic bags and other debris for food, leading to internal injuries, starvation or death after ingesting the waste. Plastic pollution has become one of the leading threats facing sea turtles worldwide.

The authority also warned that turtles frequently become entangled in abandoned fishing nets, ropes and other plastic waste floating in the sea. Such entanglement can cause severe injuries, restrict movement and prevent turtles from surfacing to breathe, significantly reducing their chances of survival.

Another major concern highlighted in the campaign is the impact of marine litter on turtles’ ability to swim freely and search for food. Plastic waste can obstruct their movement, making it difficult for them to feed, migrate and complete their natural life cycle.

The campaign further notes that plastic pollution can disrupt nesting activities. Accumulated waste along beaches may prevent female turtles from reaching suitable nesting sites, while hatchlings can struggle to reach the sea due to obstacles created by litter.

Oman is home to globally significant nesting populations of several marine turtle species, including the endangered green turtle and loggerhead turtle. The sultanate’s coastline hosts internationally recognised nesting beaches, making their conservation a national environmental priority.

The EA urged residents and visitors to reduce the use of single-use plastics, dispose of waste responsibly and participate in beach clean-up initiatives. It stressed that protecting marine turtles requires collective action, adding that every piece of plastic removed from the environment contributes to safeguarding Oman’s marine ecosystems for future generations.