JEDDAH: A large-scale seabed cleanup at Jeddah Marina has cleared 9.3 tonnes of waste from the Red Sea, drawing hundreds of divers, volunteers and government agencies into one of the city’s biggest marine conservation efforts, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
Conducted under the patronage of Jeddah Gov. Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Jalawi, the campaign wrapped up this week at the marina in North Obhur.
Over the course of the operation, 419 registered divers and volunteers carried out more than 300 dives across 64 hours of fieldwork, pulling plastics, metals, tires and other debris from the water, according to SPA.
Of the total haul, roughly 6,160 kilograms of plastic — accounting for 65.7 percent of all waste recovered — was diverted from landfill and sent for recycling.
The drive was organized by Jeddah Transport Company, which operates and develops the city’s marinas and water taxi network. Its partners included Jeddah Municipality, the Saudi Red Sea Authority, the Ministry of Sport, the National Center for Environmental Compliance and 10 diving centers, SPA said.
The initiative forms part of a broader national push to safeguard the Red Sea’s marine ecosystems, in particular its coral reefs, which sustain a diverse array of fish and marine life.
SPA reported last month that coral reefs along Jeddah’s coast are essential to marine biodiversity and rely on responsible human behavior to thrive over the long term. The Saudi Red Sea Authority has worked to raise environmental awareness among residents, visitors and marine operators, promoting practices such as proper waste disposal and protecting coral formations and marine organisms from harm.
Conservation efforts have increasingly engaged tourism operators and local communities alike. In September, the authority-backed Friends of the Red Sea community staged a volunteer beach cleanup at Rixos Beach in King Abdullah Economic City, uniting hospitality workers to help keep coastal areas clean and champion environmental stewardship, SPA reported.
Jeddah Transport Company emphasized that protecting the marine environment calls for more than simply clearing existing waste — it also requires curbing pollution and fostering a shared sense of responsibility for preserving the sea for generations to come.