The amount of discarded plastic found in dead seabirds in the UAE has been described as "very alarming" by a senior Greenpeace campaigner.
Farah Al Hattab, lead plastics campaigner at Greenpeace Mena, said harm to creatures such as seabirds indicated "a much deeper environmental crisis".
The new research, released by Sharjah researchers, reported that about one in eight seabirds found dead off the emirate's coast had eaten some form of marine pollutant, mostly plastic or glass, but also including oil.
"The study is very alarming and adds to the growing body of evidence on the devastating impact of plastic pollution on biodiversity," Ms Al Hattab told The National.
"Any imbalance in the ecosystem, especially involving indicator species like seabirds, signals a much deeper environmental crisis."
She said the findings of the study released last month indicated "how pervasive plastic pollution has become", adding that studies like the one just published were "a warning sign".
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Carried out by scientists from the Environment and Protected Areas Authority in Sharjah and the American University of Sharjah, the work is thought by the researchers to be the first in the Middle East to measure how the region’s seabirds are affected by plastic and other waste.
Hidden risks
The study’s lead author, Fadi Yaghmour, a scientific researcher at the EPAA’s Sharjah Strandings Response Programme, indicated that debris could damage the birds’ gastrointestinal tract.
“Even when the debris doesn’t cause physical damage to the tract through tears, or even if it doesn’t block the tract, as is often occurring with sheath-like plastics, the bird will feel full, satiated, even while it has not gained any nutrition from eating a piece of plastic,” he said.
The researchers analysed the contents of the gastrointestinal tracts of 478 seabirds from 17 species found dead off Sharjah’s coasts from the beginning of 2017 to the end of 2023. Birds analysed included 406 black-headed gulls, 29 large white-headed gulls and 23 Socotra cormorants.
When a sample of 20 birds was looked at as part of the same study, all contained microplastics, the tiny particles formed from the break-up of larger pieces of plastic.
More than three-quarters of the microplastic particles were microfibres, probably from laundry. These can cause scarring and inflammation of the animals' digestive tract.
Another author, Prof Fatin Samara, part of the American University of Sharjah’s recently launched Sharjah Environmental Hazards Assessment Research Group, said problems came not only from the plastic itself.
“It’s also about how microplastics can carry or attract toxic pollutants,” she said. “We’re not just examining the plastics themselves – we’re also testing for heavy metals and organic contaminants, because multiple studies have shown that microplastics can act as vectors, transporting other substances through the environment.
“What you’re dealing with is a cocktail of plastics that may also carry additional toxic chemicals on their surfaces.”
Some seabirds, such as gulls, travel inland and visit landfill sites, so not all debris that they consumed will have originated in the seas.
A key way to cut plastic pollution is, Prof Samara said, to simply reduce how much plastic is used. Promoting a more circular economy, in which material is recycled, is also important.
Of the 478 dead birds analysed in the study, 62 (or 12.8 per cent) had eaten marine debris of some kind, and 53 of those had consumed plastic or other solid debris. Eight had eaten oil or similar pollutants.
Phased bans
Levels of marine debris found in seabirds vary globally, according to data reported in the new study, with 13 per cent of gulls in the western Mediterranean found to contain marine debris, compared with 22 per cent off Ireland and 33 per cent in the North Pacific. Australian research reported that eight per cent of gulls contained marine debris.
Prof Brendan Godley, of the University of KhorFakkan’s Sharjah Marine Science Research Centre and the University of Exeter in the UK, said when seabirds ate plastic, they could regurgitate it for chicks, leading to gut damage, blockages and death. Also, if the animal is being fed plastic, it cuts the amount of actual food eaten.
“If a chick needs a lot of food to grow and survive and the parents think they’re giving a full portion but half is [not food], it’s not getting the nutrition, as well as damaging the gut and causing blockages,” he said.
The UAE authorities have tried to prevent plastic waste from entering the environment through phased bans on plastic products, with further nationwide restrictions coming into force next year.
While many camels have died in the UAE from eating plastic bags, the numbers are thought to have fallen thanks to restrictions on single-use plastic bags. Plastic is also harmful to dugongs.
Other dangers to wildlife from litter remain, with Mr Yaghmour saying seabirds continued to get caught in discarded fishing gear, years after the issue was identified.
Some of the most severe cases have involved fish hooks with lines becoming attached to birds.
A hook may be attached to a fish, Mr Yaghmour said, and when a seabird eats the fish, the hook attaches to the bird.
“That’s why several times we’ve seen birds with the hook in the beak,” he said.
One particularly distressing case involved a cormorant found hanging from a tree. The hook had become caught in the animal’s oesophagus, the pipe down which food passes, and the line attached to the hook became entangled in a tree.
Another bird could not move normally because it had hooks embedded in its beak and a foot, with a line running between them. When the animal moved its head, it pulled its foot, and vice versa.
“We see this often in cases of entanglements – the line is as dangerous as the hook. When they’re together it becomes a very potent risk,” Mr Yaghmour said.
Mr Yaghmour said fishing gear was hazardous and so should be “handled responsibly like any other material that can cause harm to people or animals”.
“The call I would give to fishermen – recreational and artisanal – is of course to respect the gear and use it responsibly. Do not use it in areas where it may latch on to substrates and get lost easily,” he said.
Ghost fishing gear
The Environment Agency Abu Dhabi is developing a programme to deal with marine debris, including large or macro debris and derelict or “ghost” fishing gear because of their "wider ecosystem impacts".
The organisation said it had upgraded its policies to follow "best international practices", particularly those from a well-regarded programme at Hawaii Pacific University.
"As a result, we have updated and enhanced our upcoming programme design to incorporate ghost gear tracking as a core component, complementing our broader marine litter and water quality initiatives," the agency said.
In the Abu Dhabi emirate, the agency said fishing hooks were used only in handline fishing or Hadaq, which prevents unattended gear from being left in the water.
“While the current risk is minimal, ongoing education and monitoring can ensure best practices are maintained,” it said.
“If handlining practices change, or incorporate baiting methods more attractive to birds, additional measures – weighted lines, bird-scaring devices – could be considered.”
The environmental agency said other actions could reduce the risk that fishing hooks posed, including bird-scaring lines to discourage birds from approaching baited hooks, setting lines at night when birds tended to be less active, and adding weights to lines so that they sank out of the reach of foraging birds.
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Saturday, May 16 (kick-offs UAE time)
Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (4.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Freiburg (4.30pm)
Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin (4.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Paderborn (4.30pm)
Augsburg v Wolfsburg (4.30pm)
Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach (7.30pm)
Sunday, May 17
Cologne v Mainz (4.30pm),
Union Berlin v Bayern Munich (7pm)
Monday, May 18
Werder Bremen v Bayer Leverkusen (9.30pm)
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Fight Night
FIGHT NIGHT
Four title fights:
Amir Khan v Billy Dib - WBC International title
Hughie Fury v Samuel Peter - Heavyweight co-main event
Dave Penalosa v Lerato Dlamini - WBC Silver title
Prince Patel v Michell Banquiz - IBO World title
Six undercard bouts:
Michael Hennessy Jr v Abdul Julaidan Fatah
Amandeep Singh v Shakhobidin Zoirov
Zuhayr Al Qahtani v Farhad Hazratzada
Lolito Sonsona v Isack Junior
Rodrigo Caraballo v Sajid Abid
Ali Kiydin v Hemi Ahio
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%3Cp%3E-%20US%20Congress%20is%20divided%20into%20two%20chambers%3A%20the%20House%20of%20Representatives%20and%20Senate%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20435%20members%20make%20up%20the%20House%2C%20and%20100%20in%20the%20Senate%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20A%20party%20needs%20control%20of%20218%20seats%20to%20have%20a%20majority%20in%20the%20House%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20In%20the%20Senate%2C%20a%20party%20needs%20to%20hold%2051%20seats%20for%20control%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20In%20the%20event%20of%20a%2050-50%20split%2C%20the%20vice%20president's%20party%20retains%20power%20in%20the%20Senate%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201.5-litre%204-cylinder%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECVT%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E119bhp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E145Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDh%2C89%2C900%20(%2424%2C230)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Scoreline:
Everton 4
Richarlison 13'), Sigurdsson 28', Digne 56', Walcott 64'
Manchester United 0
Man of the match: Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton)
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
The UN General Assembly President in quotes:
YEMEN: “The developments we have seen are promising. We really hope that the parties are going to respect the agreed ceasefire. I think that the sense of really having the political will to have a peace process is vital. There is a little bit of hope and the role that the UN has played is very important.”
PALESTINE: “There is no easy fix. We need to find the political will and comply with the resolutions that we have agreed upon.”
OMAN: “It is a very important country in our system. They have a very important role to play in terms of the balance and peace process of that particular part of the world, in that their position is neutral. That is why it is very important to have a dialogue with the Omani authorities.”
REFORM OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL: “This is complicated and it requires time. It is dependent on the effort that members want to put into the process. It is a process that has been going on for 25 years. That process is slow but the issue is huge. I really hope we will see some progress during my tenure.”
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Carzaty%2C%20now%20Kavak%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELaunch%20year%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECarzaty%20launched%20in%202018%2C%20Kavak%20in%20the%20GCC%20launched%20in%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20140%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Automotive%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECarzaty%20raised%20%246m%20in%20equity%20and%20%244m%20in%20debt%3B%20Kavak%20plans%20%24130m%20investment%20in%20the%20GCC%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Brief scores:
Southampton 2
Armstrong 13', Soares 20'
Manchester United 2
Lukaku 33', Herrera 39'
High profile Al Shabab attacks
- 2010: A restaurant attack in Kampala Uganda kills 74 people watching a Fifa World Cup final football match.
- 2013: The Westgate shopping mall attack, 62 civilians, five Kenyan soldiers and four gunmen are killed.
- 2014: A series of bombings and shootings across Kenya sees scores of civilians killed.
- 2015: Four gunmen attack Garissa University College in northeastern Kenya and take over 700 students hostage, killing those who identified as Christian; 148 die and 79 more are injured.
- 2016: An attack on a Kenyan military base in El Adde Somalia kills 180 soldiers.
- 2017: A suicide truck bombing outside the Safari Hotel in Mogadishu kills 587 people and destroys several city blocks, making it the deadliest attack by the group and the worst in Somalia’s history.
Five famous companies founded by teens
There are numerous success stories of teen businesses that were created in college dorm rooms and other modest circumstances. Below are some of the most recognisable names in the industry:
- Facebook: Mark Zuckerberg and his friends started Facebook when he was a 19-year-old Harvard undergraduate.
- Dell: When Michael Dell was an undergraduate student at Texas University in 1984, he started upgrading computers for profit. He starting working full-time on his business when he was 19. Eventually, his company became the Dell Computer Corporation and then Dell Inc.
- Subway: Fred DeLuca opened the first Subway restaurant when he was 17. In 1965, Mr DeLuca needed extra money for college, so he decided to open his own business. Peter Buck, a family friend, lent him $1,000 and together, they opened Pete’s Super Submarines. A few years later, the company was rebranded and called Subway.
- Mashable: In 2005, Pete Cashmore created Mashable in Scotland when he was a teenager. The site was then a technology blog. Over the next few decades, Mr Cashmore has turned Mashable into a global media company.
- Oculus VR: Palmer Luckey founded Oculus VR in June 2012, when he was 19. In August that year, Oculus launched its Kickstarter campaign and raised more than $1 million in three days. Facebook bought Oculus for $2 billion two years later.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Monster
Directed by: Anthony Mandler
Starring: Kelvin Harrison Jr., John David Washington
3/5
Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The story of Edge
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, established Edge in 2019.
It brought together 25 state-owned and independent companies specialising in weapons systems, cyber protection and electronic warfare.
Edge has an annual revenue of $5 billion and employs more than 12,000 people.
Some of the companies include Nimr, a maker of armoured vehicles, Caracal, which manufactures guns and ammunitions company, Lahab
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
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Political flags or banners
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Bikes, skateboards or scooters
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201.8-litre%204-cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E190hp%20at%205%2C200rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20320Nm%20from%201%2C800-5%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206.7L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh111%2C195%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Overview
Cricket World Cup League Two: Nepal, Oman, United States tri-series, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu
Fixtures
Wednesday February 5, Oman v Nepal
Thursday, February 6, Oman v United States
Saturday, February 8, United States v Nepal
Sunday, February 9, Oman v Nepal
Tuesday, February 11, Oman v United States
Wednesday, February 12, United States v Nepal
More coverage from the Future Forum
Bangladesh tour of Pakistan
January 24 – First T20, Lahore
January 25 – Second T20, Lahore
January 27 – Third T20, Lahore
February 7-11 – First Test, Rawalpindi
April 3 – One-off ODI, Karachi
April 5-9 – Second Test, Karachi
