Reef Relief: MECA, Muriya & ESO take the lead

Supported by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs (MECA), Environment Society of Oman (ESO) in collaboration with Muriya Tourism Development Company (MTDC) will initiate the deployment of 12 mooring buoys across Oman.   The entire exercise has been master-planned to preserve the rich and vibrant marine and coral life, which are valuable assets to the country. Mooring buoys serve as a station for anchoring boats without having to throw anchors into the waters and would potentially lead to the damage of the coral reef, which provides both food and shelter to marine life.

As some of the best-known dive sites in Oman do not have buoys, six of the buoys will be placed in Bandar Al Khairan, two in Al Fahal Island and four in Khour Shaam in Khasab, Musandam. Each buoy is 130cm in height and 115cm in width and weighs approximately 90 kg. The placement of 10 tonnes of concrete blocks will be required to hold the 12 buoys. Each site of deployment has been carefully studied and selected, and utmost care will be taken during the placement of the concrete blocks.   Tentative dates for the first installation are 4 – 7 January 2009 at Bandar al Khairan provided the weather is favourable. After being transferred from the factory, divers from MECA, ESO and diving clubs in Muscat will help in the deployment of the buoys.   "We hope this pilot programme will be the beginning of a long standing relation of Muriya with ESO and MECA in preserving and sustaining the environment of Oman. While development is important, it is equally imperative to take counter measures and raise awareness to address environmental issues – a policy that Muriya has believed in and actively pursued since its inception," stated Cyril Piaia, CEO Muriya. The company strives to follow in the footsteps of its parent company- Orascom, who has achieved four prestigious Green Globe Awards for building the beachside village 'El Gouna' on Egypt's Red Sea coast with minimal disruption to the surroundings.   Muriya has taken stringent measures to ensure both its Integrated Tourism Complexes include 'Inland Marinas' and not marinas built into the sea which would disrupt the coastal marine life. Even the excavation of the marina basins have been carried out keeping the ecological impact in mind. The company believes in and is implementing a low-density building policy for its projects wherein only 25 per cent of the land will be built on, leaving the remaining 75 per cent as natural attraction.   ESO was setup in 2004 with an aim to help conserve Oman's natural heritage and raise awareness about environmental issues. It has initiated campaigns and helped raise awareness with projects such as 'Say no to plastic bags' and preservation of coral reefs.   Established in March 2006, Muriya Tourism Development Company is a joint venture between Egypt's renowned Orascom Hotels & Development with a stake of 70 per cent, and 30 per cent with the Omani government, represented by Omran. Muriya is investing in four major projects, namely Salalah Beach, Jebel Sifah, a city complex in Muscat and a Boutique Hotel on Al Sodah Island.