National Forum for Environment and Sustainable Development (NFESD): Socotra Dolphin Mortality Disaster Demands Scientific Investigation and Responsible Action for the Marine Environment
The National Forum for Environment and Sustainable Development (NFESD) has been closely following the mass mortality incident involving dozens of “False Killer Whales” witnessed along the coasts of Qalansiya area in the Socotra Archipelago in recent days.
The National Forum for Environment expresses its profound regret over this environmental catastrophe, which is almost certainly one of the largest marine mortality incidents observed in Yemen in recent years. This event occurs at a time when Yemen’s marine environment faces increasing pressures due to climate change, lack of oversight, and expansion of unsustainable activities. This makes it imperative to address this incident with scientific, national, and ethical responsibility.
In light of this environmental disaster, the National Forum for Environment and Sustainable Development (NFESD) calls for the swift formation of an independent scientific investigation committee, including national and international experts, to accurately determine the causes of the incident.
The Forum emphasizes that the “Socotra Archipelago is not merely a Yemeni environmental heritage but a global human legacy. What happened to the dolphins represents not only a devastating loss to biodiversity but also an environmental warning that necessitates urgent action at all levels.”
The Forum urges all responsible and concerned parties involved in marine life conservation to view the dolphin mortality disaster as an alarm bell, compelling them to initiate responsible action towards the problems facing Yemen’s marine environment. This necessarily requires:
1-Enhancing the capabilities of environmental agencies in the Socotra Archipelago and other Yemeni coasts to enable rapid monitoring and response to such incidents.
2- Developing a national plan for marine environmental protection in Yemen, including regulating fishing, monitoring marine activities, and establishing an early warning system.
3- Strengthening the role of the local community in environmental reporting and monitoring through training programs and participatory initiatives.
4- Integrating marine environmental issues into climate adaptation and sustainable development plans in Yemen, particularly in the most fragile island areas.
The National Forum for Environment and Sustainable Development also wishes to announce that:
Stemming from its environmental and national responsibility, the Forum’s administration has extended an invitation to a group of specialized researchers and marine environment enthusiasts, both from its team members and friends, to conduct a preliminary analysis of the causes and factors of a marine catastrophe like the Socotra dolphin mortality. It is important to note that the results of this study, which will be shared with you later, will focus on possible scenarios for the problem’s occurrence, and will not involve an investigation or examination of the problem itself. This study, of course, does not supersede the independent scientific investigation that the Forum demands and confirms its readiness to cooperate with relevant authorities to accomplish.
Conclusion
We, at the National Forum for Environment and Sustainable Development, reaffirm our commitment to continue working towards protecting Yemen’s marine environment, enhancing environmental awareness, and coordinating with relevant authorities to preserve our country’s biodiversity, protecting future generations and fulfilling our national responsibility.
Issued by the National Forum for Environment and Sustainable Development – Yemen
