Qatar- EMRQ delivers dugong presentation for students

Date

3/22/2016 1:21:48 PM

(MENAFN- The Peninsula)

Students at the Al Bayan Secondary School for Girls during the programme.

DOHA: Dr Christopher Warren Environmental Research Lead for ExxonMobil Research Qatar (EMRQ) recently delivered a fun interactive presentation on Qatar’s dugongs at Al Bayan Secondary School for Girls for a group of 50 students.

He was invited to give the presentation as part of a student-led workshop on Dugong awareness. The student organisers and workshop attendees are part of the Al Bayan Go Blue ROTA Youth Service Club which is part of ROTA’s Youth Service Clubs (RYSC).

The school’s club is running an initiative related to the awareness and conservation of Dugongs in Qatari waters. ExxonMobil Qatar is RYSC’s platinum sponsor a strategic cooperation that was announced during a press conference and signing ceremony in late January by Alistair Routledge President and General Manager of ExxonMobil Qatar and Essa Al Mannai Executive Director of ROTA.

Dr Warren began the presentation with an overview of dugong biology followed by a discussion of potential threats to their health and species viability. The focus then shifted to current research on the Arabian Gulf population with updates on findings and future activities. This research is in collaboration with Texas A&M University Galveston and is part of an ongoing effort developed in coordination with the General Directorate for Natural Reserves – Private Engineering Office (PEO) and the Ministry of Municipality and Environment to share findings and information about the local Dugong population with the goal of furthering a preservation plan for this unique species.

Dr Warren explained to the group of students that important regions for Dugongs in the Arabian Gulf are the United Arab Emirates (UAE) near Murawah Island and the coastal region of Saudi Arabia between Qatar and the UAE - possibly extending to Mesaieed. Dugongs can also be found on the northwest coast of Qatar and offshore Bahrain between Fasht Al Adhm and the Hawar Islands.

“We participated in this workshop today because we want to help raise awareness of Qatar’s unique Dugong species. We also want to ensure they are protected and continue to live unhindered in their natural habitat” said Dr Warren. “Education is one of the most important tools in the long-term conservation of species and by raising awareness enhancing knowledge and encouraging people to take action real steps can be made towards conserving this iconic species.” Dugongs which are large long-living herbivorous marine mammals that consume sea grasses can reach lengths of greater than three metres weigh more than 400kg and live up to 70 years. Historically Dugongs have had a cultural and economic importance to Qataris and have had a presence in the Arabian Gulf for more than 7500 years.The Peninsula

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