More than 110 volunteers converged on the Sealine Beach and Dunes on Saturday to collect a total of 270kg of trash and debris, including 30kg from underwater, a statement said Sunday.
The campaign saw the Junior Business Council Qatar and Marriott Business Council, in collaboration with Professional Association of Diving Instructors (Padi) ambassador Khaled Zaki, Aqua Guild, lead the 'Sea the Change' beach cleaning event.
The collaborative effort saw all Marriott International Hotels in Doha join hands to clean the shores, dunes and underwater areas of Sealine. The volunteers included hotel staff, local resident and environmental enthusiasts.
"It was heartening to witness the community coming together, demonstrating a shared responsibility towards safeguarding our environment. We are grateful to everyone who contributed their time and effort to make this initiative a resounding success," said Asela Jayaweera, head of Junior Business Council, speaking on behalf of the organisers.
The 'Sea the Change' initiative emphasised the importance of responsible tourism and highlighted the need for ongoing efforts to protect marine ecosystems. The event aimed to raise awareness about the impact of plastic pollution and improper waste disposal on coastal areas.
Zaki, a renowned environmental advocate passionate about marine conservation and raising awareness about the importance of preserving aquatic ecosystems, commended the effort from the Ministry of Municipality and other authorities as remarkable, but stressed the need for awareness from communities, locals, schools and universities to make a real change.
"The trash and debris collected from the Sealine beach as well as from under water comprised 60% plastic," added Zaki while highlighting the need to combat plastic pollution.
