An exploratory trip that set out from Tripoli toward the coast of Zuwara turned into the discovery of a major environmental hazard, after a Libyan research team documented unusually high levels of pollution in the waters west of the country. The team, which originally aimed to record the remains of a historic shipwreck located about 25 kilometers offshore, was met from the first moments of the dive with alarming changes in water quality, marked by heavy turbidity and almost zero visibility.
Upon descending to a depth of around 47 meters, the divers encountered what they described as a “disturbing scene”: large quantities of dead fish scattered across the seabed, weighing more than 100 kilograms in total. The dead marine life included species such as shoula, farareej, and crabs, along with other decomposing organisms showing clear signs of decay.
The shipwreck itself was surrounded by abandoned fishing gear known as “ghost nets,” in addition to tangled ropes and accumulated plastic debris that had become part of a polluted underwater landscape posing a constant threat to marine life.
The team also observed unmistakable evidence of destructive fishing practices involving explosives, locally known as “jolatina.” Traces of blast damage were visible on the dead fish and on parts of the wreck, indicating indiscriminate destruction affecting all forms of marine life in the area.
According to Captain Talal Osmaan, a member of the team, the mission quickly shifted from historical documentation to recording what he described as a “full-fledged environmental crime,” noting that every photograph taken served as testimony to a silent catastrophe unfolding beneath the waves.
Osmaan concluded by warning that the scenes witnessed represent “a cry for help from the depths of the Libyan sea,” stressing that ongoing pollution and neglect threaten fish stocks, marine heritage, and the natural beauty of Libya’s coastline. He questioned how many similar hidden disasters might be occurring unnoticed, and when serious action will be taken to prevent the sea from turning into a vast underwater graveyard.