SHARJAH: In a landmark environmental breakthrough, the Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA) in Sharjah has completed the first Middle East study on the ingestion of marine debris by seabirds, revealing that over 12% had consumed plastic, oil, or other pollutants.
Timed with World Environment Day, the study is part of the Sharjah Strandings Response Program and was published in the Marine Pollution Bulletin. It sheds urgent light on how marine pollution is silently harming coastal birds and biodiversity across the UAE and the wider region.
The study examined the digestive systems of 478 dead seabirds from 17 species found along the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. Alarmingly, 12.8% of the birds had ingested pollutants: 11.1% had consumed marine debris, while 1.7% contained crude oil or tar balls. The most common pollutants were plastic polymers, particularly polyethylene, with black-headed gulls most affected. Juvenile gulls were more vulnerable than adults.
In a detailed microplastic test of 20 birds, 77.8% of detected plastic particles were microfibres — likely from laundry wastewater. Fishing hooks and oil balls were also found to pose serious threats to seabird survival.
Hana Saif Al Suwaidi, EPAA Chairperson, called the findings “a pioneering scientific accomplishment” that strengthens Sharjah’s leadership in marine research and biodiversity conservation. She reaffirmed EPAA’s commitment to collaborating with experts to reduce marine pollution and promote eco-awareness.
Al Suwaidi said World Environment Day should not just be symbolic, but a chance to rethink policies and support community-led conservation. “This is about preserving biodiversity, protecting coastal ecosystems, and building sustainability for future generations.”
