Doha: Qatar will host the first Gulf Marine Environment Conference (GMEC) with the theme “One Sea Cooperative Action”.
The event will be held on May 18–19 at Ritz-Carlton Hotel, under the patronage of Minister of Environment H E Ahmed Amer Al Humaidi, and with the cooperation of UNEP-ROWA, UNESCO and other international and regional organisations.
This conference is considered to be the first of its type in the region which discusses the Protection of the Marine Environment, from the aspects that associated with the regional nature of the area.
The conference sessions will discuss the above topics from the following dimensions: Financing the marine environment management plan, Research and development for the marine environment protection, How to increase the stakeholders awareness and The trans-boundary cooperative action.
The conference will address very important issue related to the Protection of the Marine Environment through the following topics: Marine Food Security, Climate Change Impacts on the Marine Environment, Ecological System Habitat: Ecological and Biological Role, Invasive Species in the Marine Environment, Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), What is Achieved and What is Possible, Marine Heritage: Traditions and Opportunities, Water Desalination: Status and the Future Impact Analysis and Integrated Marine Environment Protection.
The organisers aims to attract a number of experts and the decision makers from the region and bring them side-by-side to an open discussion with the other peers from the industrial, technical, research and legislative sectors through a program which consists of different scientific sessions.
Following speakers are confirmed their attendance: Dr Hassan Al Banna Awad, Programme Officer, ROPME, Kuwait, Dr Fares Howari, Professor, Zayed University, Dr Salem Al Jabri, Sultan Qaboos Universtiy, Oman, Dr Mehsin Al Ayafei, Associate Professor in Marine Environment, Prof Waleed Khalil Zubari, Chairperson, Water Resources Management Programme, Arabian Gulf University, Paul Holthus, Founding President/CEO, World Ocean Council, Mohammad Saeed Al Mohannadi, Director, Department of Fisheries Wealth, Ministry of Environment, Qatar, Capt Abdulla Al Khanji, CEO Qatar Ports Management Co., Dr Saif Mohammed Al Ghais, Associate Professor of Marine Biology, Environment Protection & Development Authority, Government of Ras Al Khaimah, Dr Mohammed (Moe) Khaleel, Director, QEERI, Benoit Blarel, Practice Manger, Environment and Natural Resources Global Practice, The World Bank.
The Conference will have a parallel exhibition that will showcase the latest of marine technologies, services and the successful experiment in the related sector.
The conference comes at a time where Qatar is interested in launching many initiatives on the protecting the marine environment and according to the National development Strategy 2030, and specifically in the field of marine living resources and the development of aquaculture and fish stock management.
The Peninsula
