Conservation Summit At Xposure 2026 Highlights Ocean Health In Sharjah
H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, opened the 5th Conservation Summit under the theme "Troubled Waters", held within the 10th Xposure International Photography Festival in Aljada, where officials, experts and photographers examined ocean health, marine biodiversity loss and the influence of visual storytelling on environmental awareness and public policy.
Speakers warned that recent decades have brought a steep decline in marine ecosystems, noting that humans have depleted 90% of large fish stocks, damaged more than half of coral reefs and released about 18 billion pounds of plastic into oceans each year, while studies show a 73% loss in marine life during the past 50 years.
During the opening session, titled "The Living Sea: A Fight for Our Oceans", Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Department of Government Relations, joined photojournalist Brian Skerry to discuss how photography can translate complex scientific findings for broad audiences and how linking research with strong imagery may support responsible behaviour and stronger conservation policies worldwide.
The session underlined that oceans cover about three-quarters of the planet’s surface and represent almost 98% of the biosphere where life can exist, emphasising their direct connection to human respiration, global climate systems and food security, and reinforcing arguments that protecting seas is central to long-term human and environmental stability.
| Ocean and marine life indicator | Figure reported at Conservation Summit | Share of Earth’s surface covered by oceans | About 75% |
|---|---|
| Share of biosphere where life can exist | Nearly 98% |
| Decline in marine life over 50 years | 73% loss |
| Large fish stocks depleted by humans | 90% |
| Coral reefs destroyed | More than 50% |
| Plastic entering oceans each year | Around 18 billion pounds |
| Excess heat absorbed by oceans | About 91% |
| Carbon emissions absorbed by oceans | Around 29% |
Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, stated that the Xposure International Photography Festival has helped position Sharjah as a regional centre for imagery and public awareness, aligned with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, who regards the arts as an early defence for community values and the UAE’s natural habitats.
Outlining national efforts to protect marine life, Dr. Amna said, "Although we are children of the desert, we are also children of the sea. It has long been an essential part of our culture and heritage since the days of pearl diving. We recognised this balance early and followed the path of the Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may he rest in peace, who planted mangrove trees with his own hands, recognising them as a green shield for our coasts and a natural carbon store. Ocean health will be the message we carry to the United Nations Water Conference 2026, which we will host later this year.
Conservation Summit and Xposure International Photography Festival underline culture and imagery
Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, noted Sharjah’s long-standing cultural role within the UAE and said Xposure reflects the emirate’s belief in creativity and in the capacity of images to broaden understanding, raise awareness and support nature protection in the region and beyond.
Al Mubarak added, "The relationship between people and nature has shaped life in this region for centuries. From the Founding Father, late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, we inherited a deep respect for nature that remains present in our language, poetry, and traditions." Al Mubarak also highlighted how media and documentation reveal that oceans regulate climate, absorb heat and carbon, feed billions and support trade and weather systems.
Al Mubarak stressed that photography and cinema are crucial documentary tools, saying they help build evidence, preserve memory and history, and create emotional links with nature that can motivate community responses, while photographers and filmmakers are able to show hidden underwater scenes, record what scientific instruments measure and speak to both logic and emotion at the same time.
Conservation Summit and Xposure International Photography Festival drive visual storytelling
Alia Al Suwaidi, Director of the Sharjah Government Media Bureau, explained that the Conservation Summit within the 10th edition of Xposure places environmental debates at the centre of visual storytelling and underscores how imagery can influence environmental awareness, especially as marine ecosystems and coral reefs face rising pressure, threatening rare species such as the endangered Angelshark.
Al Suwaidi said, "These images confirm that what we stand to lose is greater than a beautiful shot. The oceans absorb about 91% of excess heat and around 29% of carbon emissions, yet they are threatened by pollution, industrial activity, and overfishing. Images help unify the message of our shared responsibility and bring together photographers, researchers, and decision-makers to build a common language that leads to actionable policies and more planet-friendly daily behaviour."
The Conservation Summit programme includes five exhibitions in the Ocean and Marine Environment Protection Zone and six talks on the X Platform, while Xposure is also running a four-hour workshop, "Tips and Tricks in Underwater Photography", designed to introduce underwater photography enthusiasts to basic shooting techniques, practical guidance and specialist skills needed in marine environments.
The opening of the summit, held as part of the wider Xposure International Photography Festival in Aljada, drew senior officials, environmental scientists, ocean explorers, photography professionals, specialists and media representatives from several countries, reflecting both the scientific importance of ocean health and the growing role of Sharjah as a regional meeting point for discussions on marine conservation and environmental communication.
With inputs from WAM
Sign in with Google