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MUSCAT —
As part of the national plan for managing coral reefs,
the Ministry of Regional Municipalities, Environment and
Water Resources has lowered around 50 artificial reef
balls around Al Fahal Island.
The ministry aims from
the balls lowering operation to monitor coral growth,
fish stock and other marine species and detect any human
or natural damage to their habitat.
The deployment
of the reef structures was carried out by experts from
the ministry, Royal Navy of Oman (RNO) and Petroleum
Development Oman (PDO).
The ministry has lowered as
many as 380 reef balls since the inception of project in
1998, of which 250 structures were deployed in Al
Damaniyat Island, 80 at Mina Al Fahal and 50 at Qalhat.
So far, more than 75 types of corals were identified
in the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. — ONA
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