Many fishermen here say that extensive pollution of the Jeddah coastline has forced them to ply their trade in other areas of the Kingdom’s coastline including Al-Laith, Yanbu and Rabigh.
They say that some careless members of the public have damaged the sensitive coral reef, which is the habitat of many varieties of fish, with empty bottles, tires and other waste.
Hani Hajar, a Saudi fisherman, told Arab News there is no way anyone can now fish in these polluted waters. He said it was more difficult to catch fish, which has made their work harder.
Ahmed Al-Ez Al-Deen, an Egyptian fisherman in Jeddah, said he was also having problems. “The whole coastline between Jeddah and Qunfudha has been polluted and resulted in the depletion of fish resources and the total disappearance of tuna. Reckless fishing also damages the fish-breeding environment,” he said.
He said the pumping of raw sewage into the sea has led to the “destruction of the habitat of fish and other sea organisms. Even locations away from coastal areas are not free from the ravages caused by coastal pollutants.”
Khalid Al-Shweiki, director-general of the Fishermen’s Cooperative Society, said the price of fish is expected to drop by 40 percent at the beginning of September. However, prices are much higher than they were a few years ago. He said this was a world crisis and was not limited to the local market.
Saudi Arabia imports fish from Oman, Yemen, the United Arab Emirates, which imports and re-exports it, and Pakistan, which is famous for its shrimp production.
Al-Shweiki dismissed rumors that the country was importing poor quality frozen fish from places such as Vietnam. He said the rumors were created by dishonest traders who want people to eat other kinds of meat. He said all imported fish are of a high quality.
The Red Sea is home to 662 varieties of coral. Coral in the region grows at between five millimeters and 25 millimeters annually. Coral reefs contribute directly or indirectly to the economies of various countries. While 12 percent of the world’s fish production depends on coral, their formation also serves as a major tourist attraction. The reefs also play a major role in protecting coastlines because they serve as a natural shield against strong waves.
Sea pollution threatens livelihood of fishermen
Sea pollution threatens livelihood of fishermen
National program identifies 165 native plants for afforestation efforts in Asir
- The survey is part of broader plans focused on restoring degraded land, using native vegetation
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s National Afforestation Program has identified more than 165 species of native plants suitable for afforestation in the Asir region, highlighting the ecological diversity of one of the Kingdom’s most environmentally varied areas, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The findings form part of broader national efforts to expand vegetation cover, address land degradation, and support sustainability goals linked to the Saudi Green Initiative and Vision 2030.
According to the program, the identified species are distributed across a wide range of natural environments in Asir, including mountainous terrain, highlands, slopes, valleys, plains, rocky landscapes, and coastal areas stretching from the Red Sea to Tihama.
The species belong to numerous plant families, including Fabaceae, Anacardiaceae, Burseraceae, Capparaceae, Ebenaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Malvaceae, Myrtaceae, Oleaceae, and Primulaceae, among others.
Plants suitable for afforestation range from large and small trees to perennial and annual shrubs, herbs, succulents, bulbs, and climbing plants.
Among the most notable species identified are the grey mangrove, mastic tree, mooring or ben tree, juniper, sycamore fig, wild olive, henna, wild jasmine, hawthorn, and arak.
The Saudi Arabian Botanical Society described the announcement as an important step in protecting plant diversity and strengthening the ecosystem conservation in the Kingdom.
Munirah bin Hamad Al-Hazani, founder and president of the society, said that prioritizing native species is central to sustainable afforestation.
“Focusing on the cultivation of native plants adapted to diverse environments forms the cornerstone of sustainable afforestation projects, as it plays a pivotal role in enhancing vegetation cover, combating land degradation, and conserving natural and financial resources,” she told Arab News.
Al-Hazani added that long-term success depends on cooperation between government bodies and the nonprofit sector, alongside community involvement and environmental awareness programs.
The National Afforestation Program has increasingly emphasized community participation, working with government agencies, private companies, and nonprofit organizations to support planting initiatives and environmental education. Its approach includes promoting volunteerism and discouraging harmful environmental practices, while focusing on the use of native plants adapted to local conditions.
Parallel efforts are underway in other regions of the Kingdom to support vegetation restoration through research and infrastructure development. In Jouf, often referred to as the Kingdom’s food basket, the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority has established a Central Nursery and a Wild Seeds Research and Production Station to address the growing demand for reliable sources of native seeds and seedlings.
The project was launched in 2023 under the directive of Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif, the minister of interior and chairman of the authority’s board of directors.
Since then, the facilities has become a key component of vegetation restoration efforts within the reserve.
The authority has focused on building operational capacity by recruiting and training specialists to manage cultivation and research activities. The research and production station includes 14 mother-seed production fields containing over 400,000 trees and shrubs.
Planting began in late 2024, with more than 30 native plant species represented, selected for their role in the reserve’s natural ecosystem.
The facility also includes two seed storage units with a combined capacity of 3,000 kilograms. Seeds are collected annually from multiple sites within the reserve and used for seedling production habitat rehabilitation.
The Central Nursery spans 6,000 square meters and includes 30 greenhouses spanning 1,500 square meters, as well as two shade houses used during summer months. A plant hardening facility, designed to prepare seedlings for natural environmental conditions, covers 10,000 square meters and is divided into seven sections. The nursery’s annual production capacity reaches 1.5 million seedlings, representing more than 15 native plant species.
Together, these initiatives underscore the growing role of native plant research and propagation in Saudi Arabia’s afforestation strategy, particularly as the Kingdom works to balance environmental restoration with long-term sustainability goals.
