Dubai Police do their bit to promote marine life

One project involved sinking old army tanks in the ocean to serve as an artificial environment for sea creatures, while another saw new coral seeds planted.

DUBAI // Dubai Police have launched two projects to encourage marine life and promote the growth of coral reefs.

The first project saw 15 old army tanks sunk in the ocean, where they will serve as an artificial environment for fish and other sea creatures.

The second involved planting coral seeds in cooperation with Nakheel, Dubai Municipality, and the ministries of Interior and Environment and Water.

“Instead of dismantling the tanks and selling the parts as scrap, we decided to adopt one of our officer’s initiatives to put them in the ocean to serve as an artificial environment to marine life,” said Maj Gen Ahmad Thani, assistant director of ports affairs.

“Of course, this is after taking all the proper environmental procedures of getting rid of everything in and on the tank that may harm marine life, such as plastic pipes and oils.”

Gen Thani said up to 700 seeds of coral had been planted and he hoped the number to increase, in cooperation with environment departments.

Capt Obaid Al Shamsi, head of property at the police general department of services and supplies, came up with both initiatives.

“We looked at what other countries, such as the US and Australia, would do with their old tanks and they use them to promote marine life,” Capt Al Shamsi said.

“I thought this would be a good idea, and I pitched it to the relevant authorities and it was approved.”

As for planting coral, Capt Al Shamsi said scuba divers had reported a decrease in coral reefs along the shores.

“We thought we should do something about it,” he said. “We have the capabilities and we have scuba divers. Why not plant them ourselves?”

Capt Al Shamsi said the plan was to take the planted coral to a nursery on Deira Island.

Dubai Police has officially handed the projects to a marine environment protection agency.