Qatar’s coastal environment is home to a large whale shark and dugong population. The Qatar Creates (QC) platform, an initiative launched by Qatar Museums in 2019 , has marked World Oceans Day by sharing a salient message from a member of the creative community. In a post via Instagram , internationally acclaimed Qatar wildlife photographer, Azzam Al Mannai, said that his community was duty bound to preserve its oceans.
“I always dive deep underwater to discover the beauty of this world, but nothing compares to the beauty,” he said. He added that life cannot exist without the oceans – and stressed on the importance of protecting the seas for the sake of future generations. The self-taught photographer’s work has featured on Netflix’s ‘Our Planet II’ series presented by Sir David Attenborough.
Al Mannai’s lens has extensively captured the majestic movements of Qatar’s whale sharks. The temperature of the Gulf’s sea waters is perfect for the whale sharks to breed and feed. According to a 2023 survey by Qatar’s Whale Shark Research Project, these conditions have attracted as many as 600 of the majestic creatures to Qatar’s waters, marking it as the host of one of the world’s largest whale share congregations.
World Ocean Day, celebrated on June 8, aligns with Qatar’s commitment to the sustainability goals set forth in its National Vision 2030. Driven by collective resolve, Qatar is dedicated to advancing marine conservation efforts. The Qatari Minis.