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Megan Duhig

English 3

5 December, 2018

‘Sharks’ on the Dubai Coast

Has anyone ever heard of a shark that eats only trash? Sharks on the Dubai coast are

not like any other shark that has ever been seen. These “sharks” prey on garbage and water

pollution. In Dubai, the pollution problem is immense, so as a way to try and cut back or reverse

the amount of pollution waste sharks were introduced to the environment. The extent that waste

sharks in Dubai are helping the environmental pollution is tremendous, but the pollution is still

growing, and the people can help stop it. The pollution in Dubai was so detrimental that they

came up with a new technological device, the waste shark, to help however the pollution

problem is still ongoing.

In Dubai, the two worst forms of pollution are air pollution and water pollution, and they

have an effect on each other. Due to Dubai having about 541 vehicles per thousand, this

directly contributes to the fact that Dubai has one of highest amounts of air pollution in the world

(Corder). All of the exhaust coming out of these cars adds up and fumigates in the air which has

a big effect on water. Because the air is so polluted, when it rains the water absorbs what is in

the air and becomes acid rain. The acid rain will then end up in the oceans, lakes, rivers, and

streams, which in turn affects some people’s drinking water supply (Singh). The drinking of this

water could have a major health effect on the population drinking it.

Some really big health problems can occur when anything polluted gets into your system

especially pollution that is in the air. Many citizens of the United Arab Emirates are worried

about their health and getting respiratory diseases because of Dubai’s bad air quality

(Bardsley). Back in a 2007 study, a group of highly trained specialists discovered that there
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were about 600 deaths because of poor air quality and air pollution (Todorova). That number

has only increased over time due to the rapid growth of cars which then in turn puts more

exhaust fumes into the environment leading to cases of respiratory diseases increasing as well.

The Dubai government has made a more conscious effort to try and reduce the amount of air

pollution in their society by beginning to regulate their citizens.

After assessing the pollution problem in Dubai, scientists designed a way to help reduce

the amount of water pollution by creating a waste shark. Dana Liparts described a waste shark

was she used the following phrase, “It is designed with a low freeboard, so that it can move

along boats to clean up waste. It is very versatile.” The waste shark collects all the waste that it

comes in contact with, and it doesn’t leave any carbon footprint (Tresorero). This information is

important to know because as the waste shark is impacting the water pollution it is not adding to

the amount of air pollution that is still in the environment. There are a lot of places all over the

world that would benefit from using waste sharks in their society. Hypothetically, if every country

in the world could have waste sharks the amount of waste in the ocean would dramatically drop

or even be gone completely. Popular Science is saying that the waste shark is just like “Wall-E”,

from the Disney animated movie, because they both helped clean up the world and make it a

better place (Atherton). That comparison insinuates that the human race is very slowly

destroying our environment and relies on new advances to help clean the mess that was made.

The waste shark is very helpful and has many features that help improve the environment.

The waste shark has features that really make it very unique and very versatile. Those

features help make the waste shark so helpful and impactful towards the environment. Derek

Baldwin in an article for the Gulf News said, “The waste shark can carry 350 kilograms of waste;

it can collect and store 180 litres of oil captured on the surface of the water.” This information is

shocking because if these waste sharks were extremely prevalent the amount of trash would be
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almost completely diminished from the oceans, marinas, rivers, and water bodies of all kinds.

The waste shark can be operated in two ways either by remote control or by maps and sensors,

like a GPS, using coordinates (Ranmarine Technology). The waste shark that uses maps and

sensors can be used in a large area because it does not have to be in range of a person or the

remote. Waste sharks can become even more technologically advanced when they add the

sensors. The sensors can collect data to help determine and understand the pollution and which

areas have the highest amount of pollution (Baldwin). Knowing this information can be

beneficial, leading to more information about precautions and barriers in that area in order to

prevent people from throwing stuff in the bodies of water. The waste shark is effective but there

are many other ways that the citizens of these countries can help the environment.

While the waste shark is a water drone that helps stop trash from getting into the ocean.

Other than Dubai having and using the waste shark there are some simple things that ordinary

people can do to try and help reduce the amount of pollution in the waters (Tresorero). Dubai

also in an effort to try and cut down on waste that they are producing, the people of Dubai put

recycling centers and drop off places all over the city. This is inspiring to many places that also

have really bad pollution problems, because the citizens of Dubai are actually trying to make

Dubai a better and cleaner place to live now and for generations to come. To get people and

kids of Dubai excited about recycling they created a club to help educate, called the

Sustainability Tribe (UAE Recycling Guide).

Dubai’s pollution problem is still a big concern for many people that live there. But the

important thing to note is there are actions in place to help cut down on the problem at hand like

using the waste shark on marinas and the coasts as well as placing recycling centers in many

places around these areas. Places all over the world should have a plan to help to reduce or

eliminate the amount of trash accumulating and getting thrown into the bodies of water as well
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as how much pollution is in the environment due to themselves. If actions are taken and the

society begins to change by adding waste sharks and taking precautionary measures, our

society will have less pollution and garbage in our oceans. This would in turn limit the amount

deaths of endangered species and make the earth a happier and cleaner place to live.
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Work Cited
Atherton, Kelsey D. “Meet 'Waste Shark', The Drone That's Picking Up Garbage From The
Oceans.” Popular Science, Kelsey Afherlon, 12 Sept. 2016,
www.popsci.com/waste-shark-is-garbage-collecting-sea-drone​.
Baldwin, Derek. “WasteShark Hunts Pollution in Dubai Marina Waters.” GulfNews, Gulfnews, 7
Nov. 2018,
gulfnews.com/uae/environment/wasteshark-hunts-pollution-in-dubai-marina-waters-1.22
88471.
Bardsley, Daniel. “Dust Storms Prompt Concerns over UAE's Air Quality.” The National, The
National, 31 July 2018,

www.thenational.ae/uae/environment/dust-storms-prompt-concerns-over-uae-s-air-qualit

y-1.755594​.

Corder, Rob. “Dubai's Traffic Pollution among World's Worst.” ArabianBusiness.com,

www.arabianbusiness.com/dubai-s-traffic-pollution-among-world-s-worst-52827.html

Greenmatters, scott Campbell. “Robot Shark Patrols Dubai Marina to Keep Waters Clean.”

Plastic, Waste, Survey, Data | Aquadrones | RanMarine Technology, Plastic, Waste,

Survey, Data | Aquadrones | RanMarine Technology, 21 Oct. 2018,

www.ranmarine.io/single-post/2018/10/21/Robot-shark-patrols-Dubai-Marina-to-keep-wa

ters-clean​.

Singh, Aaditya. “Water Pollution in UAE - Ambassador Report - Our Actions.” TUNZA Eco

Generation, tunza.eco-generation.org/ambassadorReportView.jsp?viewID=42779.

Tesorero, Angel. “'Shark' in Dubai Marina That Preys on Waste.” Khaleej Times - Dubai News,

UAE News, Gulf, News, Latest News, Abu Dhabi News, Arab News, Sharjah News, Gulf

News, Dubai Business News, UAE Business News, Dubai Sports, Live Dubai Weather,

Jobs in Dubai, UAE Classifieds, Gold Rates, Forex, Oman News, Qatar News, Bahrain

News, World Muslim Prayer Timings, Dubai Labour News, Angel Tresorero, 2018,

www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/dubai/shark-in-dubai-marina-that-preys-on-waste​.
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Todorova, Vesela. “Air Pollution a Factor in Hundreds of Deaths.” The National, The National, 7

Oct. 2010,

www.thenational.ae/uae/environment/air-pollution-a-factor-in-hundreds-of-deaths-1.5017

42​.

“UAE Recycling Guide.” Sustainable Lifestyle Blog, 2018,

www.sustainabilitytribe.com/zerowasteuae/uae-recycling-guide/​.