Qatar Museums is starting a new project to clean up ocean pollution at the Al Zubarah historic site. Called the Trashboom Project, it will use special floating barriers to catch trash and debris before it can wash up on the beach.

Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the head of Qatar Museums, said the project shows their commitment to preserving Qatar's history while also finding new ways to protect the environment. 

"Through projects like this, we want to help people appreciate our heritage more and learn about sustainable practices," she said. "We want to make sure our cultural sites can be enjoyed now and in the future."

The Trashboom Project uses long floating barriers called "trash booms" that are linked together like a chain. They are set up offshore to catch floating garbage, plastics, and other pollutants before they can reach land.

At Al Zubarah, the collected trash will be reused to make things like anchors for the booms that also serve as artificial reefs, helping marine life. This recycles the waste while improving the local ecosystem.

Abdullatif Al Jasmi from Qatar Museums said Al Zubarah's beach has an ongoing problem with ocean trash washing up from the Gulf despite regular cleanups. The Trashboom system provides a longer-term solution.

"We are committed to preserving cultural sites in sustainable ways," he said. "The trash booms let us tackle the flow of debris in a way that also benefits marine life in Al Zubarah Bay."

The project is supported by the Ras Laffan Industrial City Community Outreach Program. Sheikha Dana Rashid praised the partnership for addressing plastic pollution at such an archaeologically important UNESCO site.

Al Zubarah was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2013 as the best-preserved 18th-19th century pearl fishing and trading town in the Gulf region. Unlike other historic sites, it has not been built over by modern development.

Source and Image Credit: The Peninsula