AQABA, Sept. 22 (Petra) — The second season of the “Voices of Coral”
project was launched Monday at the Aqaba Marine Reserve, highlighting
the ecological and tourism value of the Gulf of Aqaba’s coral reefs
through art.

Organized by the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) in
cooperation with the Embassy of Switzerland in Jordan, the project
aims to raise public awareness of the importance of coral reefs and
showcase the marine biodiversity of Aqaba through artistic
expression.

ASEZA Commissioner for Tourism and Youth Thabet Al-Nabulsi said the
project provides an opportunity to introduce Aqaba, particularly its
marine reserve, and highlight the rich biodiversity found in its
waters.

He stressed the importance of the partnership with the Swiss Embassy
in bringing knowledge about the marine environment to the public,
noting that the project could be expanded in future seasons to reach
audiences in different countries and cultures.

Swiss Embassy Deputy Head of Mission Hannah Fasnacht said “Voices of
Coral” is linked to scientific cooperation between Jordan and
Switzerland through the Transboundary Red Sea Center (TRSC), which
studies coral reefs in the Gulf of Aqaba.

She said the inclusion of the Aqaba Marine Reserve on the UNESCO
World Heritage List was an important milestone in highlighting the
exceptional value of its coral reef ecosystem. She also stressed the
importance of bringing scientific knowledge from the laboratory to
the wider community through art and storytelling.

Nasser Zawaydeh, Director of the Aqaba Marine Reserve, said the
second season follows the strong public response to the first
edition. He explained that the project combines environmental
awareness with tourism promotion by highlighting the importance of
coral reefs, introducing the reserve to the public, and promoting
Aqaba as an environmental and tourism destination.

This year’s edition features 12 Jordanian and Swiss artists who will
draw on their experiences and knowledge of the marine environment to
create artworks and visual stories aimed at reaching a wider
audience, particularly young people.

Zawaydeh said the resulting works will be exhibited at Aqaba Castle
and opened to the public upon completion, giving visitors an
opportunity to learn about the coral reefs of the Gulf of Aqaba
through the participating artworks.

The launch ceremony was attended by Mike Derderian, founder of
Fanzeen magazine,Samuel Gardaz, General Manager of the Transnational
Red Sea Center at the EPFL, as well as a number of people interested
in the marine environment and cultural activities in Aqaba.

//Petra//WH