Barka – About 400kg of abandoned fishing nets and ropes were removed from the marine area around Jabal Al Suwadi in Barka after dead sea turtles and other marine life were found trapped in the gear.

The Environment Authority in South Batinah, in cooperation with the Sea of Oman Diving Team and Barka Municipality, conducted an urgent removal campaign following a report from a citizen about turtles caught in the nets.

About 26 people, including 13 divers, took part in the operation and removed all the nets and ropes found at the site.

Hamoud bin Khamis Al Nairi, head of the Dimaniyat Islands Nature Reserve Centre in Al Nadab, said the report prompted immediate coordination with the participating authorities to remove the abandoned fishing gear.

He said divers and inspection teams found several dead turtles trapped in the nets, along with dead fish and other marine organisms.

The Environment Authority said the incident highlighted the damage caused by abandoned or lost fishing gear, which can continue trapping and killing marine life.

The Directorate of Environment in South Batinah commended the participating teams for their rapid response and stressed the importance of community reporting of environmental threats.

The authority urged fishermen and other sea users not to leave or abandon fishing nets and equipment in the sea. Lost or entangled gear should be reported immediately, it said, warning that such equipment poses a direct threat to turtles, fish and other marine life.