A sea turtle laying eggs on one of the islands off Qatar coast.

Doha • The Supreme Council for Environment and Natural Reserves (SCENR) has started a fresh campaign to protect sea turtles during their egg-laying season which started in April and will continue till July.

The SCENR in collaboration with the Internal Security Force Lakhwaiyya has installed more than 1,000 iron barricades to prevent vehicles from entering the beaches and causing disturbance to turtles at Almafeer, Almorona, Rukun and Um Tais islands.

This was announced by Eissa Mohamed Al Kuwari, director of sea environment supervision department at the Council.

"This campaign was widely welcomed by Qatari people and expatriates. This indicate the rising of environmental awareness level among people here," he added.

Al Kuwari praised the Qatari environment activist Mohamed Ali bin Jassem describing him as an example of those dedicated to protecting sea life.

"He was working closely with us and encouraging us to protect these beautiful sea creatures" he said. He also appreciated the role of the Qatar University in assisting the SCENR in executing many environmental research programmes.

Inspectors of sea environment supervision department and Al Shamal authorities have been conducting round-the-clock supervision as part of the campaign.

"People who are coming to enjoy beaches here have to park their vehicles far away from the protected areas, only then they will be allowed to enter, " Al Kwari said.He, however, he said the people are co-operative to the restrictions and some of them even asked for the barricades to be located permanently there.