A specialized and expanded meeting was held for the authorities concerned with the environmental reality in the governorate to discuss the phenomenon of the red tide in the waters of the Shatt al-Arab and the environmental and health damages resulting from it.
The meeting was attended by a group of experts in the field of environmental pollution, in addition to representatives of the Basra Environment Directorate, the Basra Water Director, the General Company for Iraqi Ports and the General Electricity Production Company in the southern region, in addition to specialists from the Southern Technical University and the security services in the governorate.
The meeting discussed the results of the laboratory tests carried out by the environmental team of the university and the central laboratory of the Basra Water Directorate, which were conducted on water samples taken from different areas in the Shatt al-Arab stream, and the identification of the causes and factors that led to the increase of this phenomenon and its activity in the waters of the Shatt al-Arab during the past few years, as well as the environmental damages and health implications.
Dr. Muhammad Nasser Fares stressed that the phenomenon of red tide in the waters of the Shatt al-Arab is considered a disturbing phenomenon from an environmental and health point of view, which requires work to treat it effectively to reduce the damage that results from it.
Fares added that the participants in the meeting from the relevant departments agreed on a joint action plan aimed at controlling and scaling this phenomenon and reducing its damage through quick and immediate treatments, which the Iraqi Ports Company adopted on its shoulders to implement, as well as long-term treatments represented in working on establishing projects that prevent salt wedge penetration in the Shatt al-Arab plume, which is a key factor in the occurrence of this phenomenon.
A joint specialized scientific team was also formed to study and diagnose these algae and their environmental and health damages.
It is worth mentioning that these initiatives come within the university's policy of serving the community and providing scientific, knowledge and advisory expertise to support the concerned authorities in a manner that serves to create a healthy, sound and sustainable environment in the governorate.
