The Coast Patrol
Twelve Coast Patrol volunteer divers have become the first volunteer unit charged with rescuing red corals in the Gulf of Eilat after a special training course by the Nature and Parks Authority.
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The organization, which takes care of Israel's marine environment, was established just two years ago and already includes many marine nature enthusiasts.
The Nature and Parks Authority (NPA) after recognizing the potential of volunteers, trained them to remove corals entangled in underwater debris in order to protect the valuable red corals. "It is a complex operation that requires professional knowledge," explained Asaf Habary, the director of the Eilat region at the Nature and Parks Authority. "Its main goal is to rescue the corals and ensure their well-being," he said adding that the Gulf of Eilat had seen a significant amount of marine debris accumulated over the years.
"Clearing the trash sometimes requires detaching and rescuing corals that have settled on the waste," he explained. "The Coast Patrol have professional divers, and all we had to do was train them to handle protected natural values. We have the knowledge and authority to perform such an operation, so we provided them with professional training for this complex task," he said.
"Transferring corals underwater is a complex and important task, as the main goal is to preserve the corals and ensure their well-being. It required extensive preparations, so we provided training that included instructions on handling the corals and the professional techniques for their removal without harming them," he said.
Joseph Segal the founder of the Coast Patrol, said his group of volunteers are a citizen-based marine force that assists the Nature and Parks Authority in preserving the marine environment along Israel's coasts. As part of their jobs, they also conduct dives to remove rubber tires that pollute the seabed of the Gulf of Eilat.