Al Zubarah Trashboom Project, an environmental initiative aimed at combating ocean pollution, has been unveiled

Qatar Museums' Cultural Heritage Protection Bureau has launched the Al Zubarah Trashboom Project, an environmental project aiming at preventing coastal pollution. This effort, launched in conjunction with Earth Day, is a significant step forward in protecting Qatar's UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Al Zubarah Trashboom Project, funded by Ras Laffan Industrial City Community Outreach Program (RLIC-COP), introduces the strategic deployment of Trash Booms, an innovative measure designed to mitigate the effects of ocean pollution on this archaeological site and reduce the need for frequent beach cleanups. These buoyant Trash Booms, linked together in a chain, are placed along rivers, marine streams, beaches, and gulfs. 

Their principal role is to deflect, confine, and collect pollutants such as floating debris, marine garbage, plastics, and seaweed, preventing them from reaching the coasts or damaging terrestrial areas. Beyond their primary function, Trash Booms serve an important role in river management and stormwater overflow control. Depending on the site's individual requirements and conditions, these technologies can be implemented temporarily or permanently. 

In the case of Al Zubarah, the concept goes one step further by recycling the gathered waste material, changing it into functional fixtures or installations on the site itself. The anchors of these Trash Booms also have a dual role, operating as artificial reefs that contribute to Al Zubarah Bay's marine life. 

This multimodal strategy addresses environmental concerns while also preserving and enhancing the site's natural footprint.

Al Zubarah was designated as a UNESCO World historic Site in 2013 and is the best-preserved example of an 18th-19th century commercial and pearl fishing village in the Gulf region, making it Qatar's largest archaeological historic site. Unlike its predecessors, it remains mainly intact and has not been buried beneath the region's sprawling modern metropolis.