The Libyan Export Development Authority (LEDA) called, last Tuesday (21 April), for the Gulf of Sirte to be assigned an international nature reserve.
It said this is for the sake of our future generations and the sustainability of Libya’s marine resources.
LEDA said the objective is to protect the seabed from oil pollution and tanker spills and enforce International Maritime Organization (IMO) standards on all vessels.
This is especially so given the environmental importance of the Gulf of Sirte as a natural breeding ground for tuna.
It further added that adhering to environmental standards (such as Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems (EGCS) and Ballast Water Treatment System (BWTS) regulations) is not merely a technical option, but rather:
– A national duty to preserve our maritime sovereignty.
– An environmental necessity to ensure the continuation of biodiversity.
– An economic investment that guarantees increased tuna production and secures Libyan exports.
