Crown Prince leads dive to clean up harbours

FUJAIRAH // Hundreds of kilograms of waste were pulled from the depths of Mirbah harbour in a clean-up operation led by the Crown Prince of Fujairah, Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad.

About 45 divers and supervisors took the plunge to remove anchors, tyres, fishing nets and other pieces of rubbish from the sea floor at the Mirbah fishing harbour, north of Fujairah city, on Wednesday evening.

Sheikh Mohammed, himself an avid diver, sponsored the event. The idea was inspired by the sea-loving Ruler's pastime.

"Whenever he goes diving he gathers his friends around him to clean and dive," said Mohamed Al Afkham, the general manager of Fujairah Municipality. "For him, it's not only an awareness campaign, it's a habit that wherever you are you should keep your surroundings clean."

It is hoped that the energy of the youthful sheikh will set an example to others. "He wants to do a schedule in each port to go with the fishermen and clean the shore and underwater," said Mr Al Afkham. "He's very young and an active person and I like that he himself goes to clean."

azacharias@thenational.ae