STATUTES

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SECRETARY GENERAL

CONTACTS

Best Story Competition

MedNews

HOME

AMAN COMPETITION 2022-2023

TAP'S ENTRY FOR THE NEWS ITEM AWARD

Conservationists join forces to protect endangered sea turtles in Monastir

Written by: Ahmed Gaddeh

(TAP/ Ahmed Gaddeh)- The coastal governorate of Monastir is renowned for its stunning coastline, pristine beaches and thriving marine ecosystem. Among its many inhabitants, sea turtles hold a special place in the hearts of many locals and visitors alike. These ancient creatures have been part of the Mediterranean's rich biodiversity for millions of years, and their presence continues to play an important role in maintaining the delicate balance of the ecosystem.

There are seven species of sea turtle in the world, including three in the Mediterranean, which have been observed in the waters around Monastir.

They are the leatherback turtle (Dermochelyscoriacea), the green turtle (Cheloniamydas) and the loggerhead turtle, also known as Carettacaretta. All of these species are listed as threatened or endangered, with populations at risk from a variety of factors, including human impact and environmental degradation.

The most common sea turtle species found in the area is Carettacaretta, which is critically endangered worldwide. Loggerhead turtles are the largest of the hard-shelled sea turtles and are easily recognised by their massive head and powerful jaws.

Monastir, and in particular the island of Kuriat, is a favourable environment for the nesting of this particular species. The nearest permanent nesting site for these turtles is thousands of kilometres to the east, in Libya, according to experts.

Sea turtles are important to the Mediterranean ecosystem for several reasons. They play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of the food chain, providing a source of food for other marine species such as predatory fish and birds, and feeding on jellyfish, sea grass and other organisms that would otherwise overrun the ecosystem if left unchecked.

Researcher MalekChaarana told TAP that jellyfish populations have flourished in recent years. "The Mediterranean has become a favourable environment for jellyfish to proliferate as a result of the decline in sea turtles and also because of pollution. Jellyfish are more efficient at resisting pollution than other sea creatures," said Chaarana, who is also an eco-guardian with the Notre Grand Bleu organisation, which works to protect sea turtles in Tunisia.

The presence of sea turtles in the Mediterranean is also crucial because they help regulate the temperature and salinity of the sea. The turtles swim long distances between their nesting and feeding grounds, helping to distribute nutrients and oxygen throughout the ocean. This in turn supports the growth and survival of other marine organisms.

Sea turtles are also an important part of the cultural heritage of many coastal communities, including Monastir. These creatures have been revered for centuries as symbols of good luck and fortune, and their presence is an important part of local identity. They are also a major tourist attraction, with many visitors coming to Monastir specifically to see the turtles in their natural habitat.

In this regard, the local delegate for tourism, Faouez Ben Halima, cited joint activities with civil society to raise awareness, while benefiting from the presence of these species to promote the tourism sector. "After treating injured and sick sea turtles, the Tourism authority organises turtle releases in hotels in the region to involve tourists in these events and promote the sector."

Despite their importance to the ecosystem and the local community, sea turtle populations in Monastir and across the Mediterranean face many challenges. One of the biggest threats to the species is the loss of nesting habitats.

Fortunately, the uninhabited Kuriat Island in Monastir is entirely reserved for their nesting. Civil society activists, researchers and local authorities have unanimously agreed that the island should be cleared of all tourists and human presence at nightfall to give the shelled creatures the natural environment they need.

The island will only be open to tourists from 9am to 5pm during the summer season, Ben Halima told TAP. "This decision was taken to allow the turtles to come out and lay their eggs without being disturbed by lights and human presence."

Another major threat to sea turtles in Monastir is fishing gear and plastic pollution. Sea turtles are often accidentally caught in fishing gear, resulting in injury or death. In addition, plastic waste thrown into the sea can be mistaken for food by the turtles, damaging their digestive systems, according to Hamdi El Hamzaoui, environmental officer at Notre Grand Bleu. "This plastic pollution can also damage their habitats and upset the delicate balance of the ecosystem," he added.

Notre Grand Bleu works to protect and conserve sea turtles and their habitats. Its activities are dedicated to the protection and conservation of sea turtles, providing education and outreach programmes to raise awareness of the importance of these species.

"We regularly organise awareness-raising programmes for the public, especially fishermen's children, as well as for decision-makers and journalists," said El Hamzaoui.

These creatures play an important role in maintaining the delicate balance of the Mediterranean ecosystem and are an important part of the local community's cultural heritage.

Despite the many challenges they face, these flippers in the waves continue to capture the hearts of those who encounter them, serving as many inspiring examples of resilience and survival in the face of adversity.

The organisation insists on the collective responsibility to protect and conserve these species and to ensure that future generations have the opportunity to experience their beauty and majesty in the wild.

This requires ongoing education and awareness campaigns, as well as concrete action to reduce human impact on their habitats and mitigate the threats posed by fishing gear and plastic pollution.

"By working together and taking a multidisciplinary approach, we can ensure that sea turtles in Monastir and the Mediterranean continue to thrive for generations to come, as they have since the dawn of time, and that their vital role in the ecosystem is recognised and valued by all."

2022 - SANA story win the Best News Item

Written by: Mhd Imad Aldaghly

Translated by: Mazen Eyon

The Syrians are the first to invent seals in the world

10 August، 2022

Damascus, SANA-Seals possess keys to the secrets of life in ancient historical times, they are one of the most important archaeological finds from which the researcher in archeology inspires his/her information about previous eras, and Syria is the cradle land of the oldest discovered seals in the world, according to historian Dr. Mahmoud El-Sayyed.

This Syrian antiquities’ expert and reader of ancient inscriptions at the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums said that in Syria, the oldest seals were invented and then spread to all parts of the world according to the current archaeological data. Archaeological Ras Shamra “Ugarit Kingdom” in Lattakia province is attributed to the second half of the seventh millennium BC. Then seals appeared in the form of a plug in 5800 BC. From this date, pottery colored in one color, brown and red on an orange background, appeared for the first time in the world.

At the site of “Abu Huraira” in Syrian Jazeera region, copies of a seal dating to the period between 6500-5500 BC were discovered. At Tal Abu Hurayrah, a flat seal made of pottery dating to the period between 6000-5500 BC was also discovered.

The expert went on to say that the use of seals on pots and baskets carrying goods, dated to the end of the sixth millennium BC were discovered in Syria. Those seals were also discovered at the site of Tal al-Sabi al-Abyad on the left bank of the Upper Balikh River. Most of them are geometric in shape, including zigzag lines, circles, triangles, and intersecting lines, some of which are engraved with the shapes of plants and animals. Like goats with big horns and deer.

According to Dr. Al-Sayed, Syria possesses hundreds of seals, unique in content and very rare in the world, including a unique seal print, that has distinct characteristics in the structure and content of writing, as well as individual iconography. The seal was discovered in the Kingdom of Qatana, located in the province of Homs which dates back to the second millennium BC. It is engraved with a decorative frieze with ribbons, intertwined and divided into five indexes located on top of each other, some carry writing in cuneiform script arranged in a column opposite the ornamental decoration twisted at an angle of 90 degrees, which is a very rare and only stamp in the world discovered so far for dual reading.

On the stone seal of “Ishkhi Adad,” the king of countries, and the Lord of his name, we read in the carved copy of the original inscription “Perhaps God Adad can save me.” In the reverse version of the print on the locks, we read Adad, a lord whose name is Ishkhi Adad, the king of countries.

According to the Syrian historian, a cylindrical seal of hematite dating from the eighteenth or seventeenth century BC was also discovered in the Kingdom of Qatana, on which were engraved very small images distributed in equal columns.

Of the illustrated symbols, there are 73 symbols. These symbols consist of people, hands, bull heads, lions, birds, Syrian sphinxes, and symbols that express the God.

Dr. El-Sayed concluded by saying that the above documents, with archaeological material evidence, Syria’s global role in laying the foundations of human civilization and dedicating the concept of using seals, and the benefits that this has achieved for humanity, which we are still reaping its fruits to this day.

SANA/

---------------------------------------------------------

2019 - TAP story win the Best News Item

Tunisia's coast dying slowly: industrial pollutants are blocking valleys and environment is heating up

Written by Abdel Basset al-Faridi

Sixty-year-old Khalid al-Hami, a sad, grueling figure, straddles a rock off the sea between the suburbs of Rades and Ezzahra from the governorate of Ben Arous, near Tunis.
He took a deep breath and then sighed with regret. The sea was no longer the one he had known decades ago after the government banned swimming in this area in 2017 as a result of pollution.