On the 11th December, 2012 the researcher conducted this interview with the Director of the Centre for Marine Environmental Research, Dr Ibrahim Al-Jamali. Dr Al-Jamali said that we, in the United Arab Emirates, fight against marine pollution via competent authorities in the country to which we entrust this task as they are familiar with it and they know how to combat this pollution more than others that do not have experience and skills in this area. He also assured me that the responsibility in the United Arab Emirates for combating marine pollution, according to the plan of the National Commission for Crises and Disasters, is the Ministry of Environment and Water, especially if there is an oil pollution threat. Al Jamali, said, we have other responsible authorities which provide support for the prevention of marine pollution and which contribute to the success of the plan with the National Commission for crises and disasters such as the National Transport Authority, the armed forces, the police, civil defense and other civil authorities.431
As for the numerous competent institutions, Al Jamali, respected their role because it will raise the quality which will contribute to the reduction of the negative effects that may occur as a result of pollution. They will avoid many of the risks due to precautions. Measures are also being 430Boyce, C and Neale, P (2006). Conducting effective in-depth interviews: a guide for designing and conducting in- depth interviews for evaluation inputs. Pathfinder international tool series: Monitoring and evaluation. P. 3 431Dr. Ibrahim Al-Jamali,The Director of the Centre for Marine Environmental Research in Umm Al Quwain. (11/12/2012) at 10:00 AM.
169
taken in accordance with cooperation between institutions which are of great importance in the face of the dangers of the sea, as the role of these institutions is giving an important example. These institutions are developing training courses and workshops to raise the level of capacity in the area of operational environmental protection of the marine environment, especially protection from oil pollution as a single strategic goal of the Federal Environment. Raising the capacity of working environment in this area is particularly important at this particular time. The Ministry of Environment and Water has developed an emergency plan and a comprehensive national response to all cases of oil pollution and other harmful chemicals from various sources. AL- Jamali also said that, when a maritime disaster occurs, the cooperation of the authorities concerned intends to minimize their impact and avoid many of the expected results. Al Jamali, said that the multiplicity of the competent authorities of the country to protect the marine environment could lead to fragmentation and lack of focus as the competencies and skills will different between them. Al Jamali, honestly support central administration as it is to ensure and lead to greater protection for the marine environment in the United Arab Emirates for all kinds of environmental pollution, either land or sea, and this institution distributes tasks to entities in the country that falls under the umbrella.432
An example of the cooperation between the authorities: I researched for the incident of the White whale ship mentioned by Ibrahim AL-Jamali where I found information about it in the United Arab Emirates through research. Dr. Rashid Ahmad bin Fahad, Minister of Environment and Water discovered the white whale ship which was submerged off the coast of the Emirate of Umm Al Quwain. They tried eleven times to pull the ship up to the surface. Before they began the twelfth attempt to lift the ship, they filled holes in the ship to ensure the safety and protection of the environment from any potential leaks of fuel and to ensure the safety of all recovery operations supervisors.433Also the Minister of the Environment said the giant ship which carried out the salvage was linked to the ship. Fourteen holes were filled, then the ship started floating after twelve o'clock noon after the holes were confirmed to be sealed and stopped leaking.434
432 Ibid
433 Abu Nimah. H. (2013). Dedicated Team working to lift White Whale Ship, Emeratalyoum Newspaper, Dubai, Available online at http://www.emaratalyoum.com/local-section/accidents/2011-10-26-1.433098AccessedMarch, 2013.
434 Ibid
170
Dr. Jamali explained that we in the federal country, in order to avoid a conflict of domestic legislation, put forward a national comprehensive plan. He said that he genuinely tries to avoid conflicts of domestic legislation in the country’s laws regarding the environment, and saw that the plan could be a vehicle for avoiding inconsistencies by implementing a unified mandatory environmental law over all institutions and country employees.435
Concerning the laws created by the Emirati legislature to protect the marine environment, I would like to mention two articles about its important role in the protection of the marine environment to which I was referred by Ibrahim AL-Jamali. Article 23 of the UAE Federal Environmental law states that "in the event of a collision of oil tankers, naval installations or tankers’ hazardous materials, whether deliberately or the result of a mistake of one of his subordinates, the master is the responsible person for operations to stop the leak and the carrier shall be jointly responsible for paying all the costs of the damages and compensations, and control implications of the spill in the marine environment, coasts and beaches.” I notice that the legislator of the UAE imposes severe penalties against polluters, whether by sea or land.436
As for Article 24:"The owner of the marine means captain or any person responsible for it and those responsible for the transportation of oil located within ports or to the marine environment of the state, as well as officials of the actors in the extraction of oil that immediately is in accordance with the procedures stipulated in the Regulations to notify port authorities, border guards, coasts and other competent authorities for each incident, as soon as an oil leak occurs; the incident and type of material that leaked and the measures taken to stop the leak or reduce it. At all events, port authorities must guard the limits and coasts to inform State and stakeholders which gather information of the incident referred to him as soon as it occurs."437
I'm not against cooperation between the authorities, but I suggest that one authority in the country should delegate powers and functions to other authorities under its control.
I would say that there are a lack of provisions in the United Arab Emirates Environmental Laws in reference to the role of Islam and Shari’ah in the protection of the environment.
435Dr. Ibrahim Al-Jamali, the Director of the Centre for Marine Environmental Research in Umm Al Quwain. (11/12/2012) at 10:00 AM.
436Ibid
437 Federal Environment Law of the UAE number 24 for the year of 1999. 171
Raising public awareness of the dangers of marine pollution is important and can be achieved by delivering awareness lectures and workshops, especially with regard to oil pollution because it is the most dangerous marine pollutant. The potential risks must be understood and how to respond to incidents. Mechanisms for cooperation between different agencies should be developed and joint action plans drawn up, making use of all the experience, knowledge and techniques in the treatment of oil pollution to reduce its negative effects on the marine environment.438
The researcher noted that Dr. Al- Jumaili was more concerned about oil pollution more than other pollutants and focused on raising awareness of its dangers. As a researcher, it is my view that there should be a focus on all risks to the marine environment with the same degree of attention and responsibility that is shown towards oil pollution.