Sur – Teams from the Environment Authority’s (EA) department in South Sharqiyah released 57,744 sea turtle hatchlings into the sea and rescued 201 adult turtles, returning them to their natural habitat, during September.

The efforts form part of ongoing initiatives to protect marine turtles, preserve coastal ecosystems and raise public awareness of the importance of conserving biodiversity.

The environment department combines field operations with educational programmes and community engagement to protect nesting sites, monitor turtles and hatchlings, respond to emergencies and encourage public participation in conservation activities.

A major focus is the Ras Al Hadd Turtle Reserve, one of Oman’s prominent marine turtle nesting sites. Specialists and field monitors patrol the beach, identify nesting locations, assist hatchlings when necessary and guide visitors to minimise disturbances to turtles and their natural habitats.

Nizar bin Salim Al Fannah Al Araimi (in photo above), Director of the Environment Department in South Sharqiyah, said wildlife conservation required an integrated approach involving environmental surveys, continuous monitoring, protection of natural sites and awareness programmes for residents and visitors.

He stressed that protecting the governorate’s natural diversity depended on cooperation between government entities, private sector institutions and local communities. Ras Al Hadd Turtle Reserve received particular attention because of its importance to the life cycle of marine turtles.

During September, conservation activities involved 97 volunteers working under the supervision of five supervisors. The volunteers helped monitor nesting sites, guide visitors, clean beaches and support specialist teams in protecting turtles and their habitats. Eight field patrols were also conducted along the beach.

Al Araimi added that turtle conservation was a year-round responsibility extending beyond the nesting season. Efforts include monitoring wildlife and habitats, strengthening environmental oversight and implementing awareness programmes to reduce harmful practices and safeguard biodiversity.

He also highlighted the role of the ‘Environmental Guardians’ initiative in expanding community participation through beach clean-ups, nesting-site monitoring and awareness activities for visitors. Cooperation between volunteers, specialists and local communities, he said, strengthened conservation efforts and reinforced the principle of shared environmental responsibility.

Fatima bint Salim Al Hamhami, a volunteer involved in tourist guidance, said the initiative helped make environmental issues more accessible by turning theoretical information into practical experiences, particularly for children and school students.

She called for the programmes to be expanded to reach more families, students and children, saying wider participation would help develop environmental awareness among younger generations and encourage greater respect for wildlife.

Meanwhile, Yazeed Al Derini, a Saudi Arabian tourism content creator, praised the initiative for combining learning, participation and recreation. He said visits to turtle habitats allowed participants to understand the importance of marine life and learn about conservation efforts through direct engagement with nature.

Such experiences, he added, made environmental messages more memorable and encouraged visitors to remain interested in conservation after leaving the site.