UAE paddlers unite for cleaner seas at Paddle for the Planet

Organisers say they're expecting more people to support the June 1 Paddle for the Planet event.

Hundreds take part in the “Paddle for the Planet “ at the Kite Beach in Umm Suqeim, Dubai, last year. Satish Kumar / The National
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DUBAI // Paddlers of all persuasions will converge in Dubai and Abu Dhabi next month to support the international “Paddle for the Planet” drive for clean waterways.

Organisers say they are expecting bigger crowds than last year of stand-up paddle boarders, surf skiers, dragon boat crews and canoeists at the June 1 event.

More than 1,000 people gathered in Dubai for the paddling relay last year and about 100 in Abu Dhabi.

“What we’re trying to do by involving so many different people is to show that it’s about respecting the oceans, rivers or lakes,” said Nick Hando, one of the event’s directors.

“We also need to get children involved in understanding why this is important.

“What we hope is that when someone sees plastic bottles, discarded cigarette butts or paper they will pick it up because if we all do our little bit collectively it will make a big difference.

“We have to protect our oceans and our marine reserves because if no one cares, no one will pick up the litter.”

The event will start at 8am on the Kite Beach off Dubai’s Umm Suqeim and 9am at the Abu Dhabi Sailing and Yacht Club.

The first Paddle for the Planet was held in 2011 in Dubai.

It drew large numbers of children last year, with several schools and clubs sending teams of paddlers who joined in relay races after an hour-long paddle.

The movement aims to unite people for conservation by holding paddling events on the same day in different countries creating a global relay. Thirty-two countries are participating in this year’s event.

Donations from people and business groups last year raised about US$22,000 (Dh80,800) worldwide and was used to buy a patrol boat for the Raja Ampat marine protected area, a group of islands in Indonesia’s West Papua province.

The area will receive more support from this year’s paddle.