A total of 461 violations against the environment were documented  in 2015, the former Ministry of Environment said. Penalties included littering, dumping sewage water in random areas, transporting dangerous substances like diesel and petroleum without taking necessary precautions, soil erosion and violating the ban on grazing camel and livestock. Marine violations included overfishing, use and possession of banned fishing nets and damaging the coral reefs.

Omar Salem Al Nuaimi, Director of the Environmental Protection Department added that several people were arrested and referred to the prosecution for hunting and selling wild rabbits and curlew birds and possessing endangered animals.