Egypt’s Ministry of Setting has accomplished the primary section of a nationwide program to observe sharks utilizing satellite tv for pc monitoring, the primary of its variety within the Pink Sea area.
The initiative, introduced on 28 June, was led by an Egyptian workforce from the Ministry of Setting, the Hurghada Environmental Safety and Conservation Affiliation (HEPCA), and the Chamber of Diving and Water Sports activities.
It was carried out in coordination with the Inexperienced Hurghada Mission and a French shark-tracking knowledgeable.
9 satellite tv for pc tags had been efficiently put in on tiger and oceanic whitetip sharks in key habitats, together with the Brothers Islands close to Hurghada, Elphinstone Reef in Marsa Alam, and Shaab Al Shur Reef in Safaga.
The workforce additionally collected 14 organic samples for genetic evaluation and documented the distinctive dorsal fins of oceanic whitetip sharks to assist construct an identification catalogue.
Setting Minister Yasmine Fouad mentioned this system goals to observe the vertical and horizontal motion of sharks throughout the Pink Sea, contributing to each ecological analysis and marine tourism planning.
She famous that sharks play a significant position in marine ecosystems and are a big draw for diving tourism, including that Egypt is among the many few nations within the area to legally defend shark species.
All tagged sharks had been safely returned to their pure habitats, and the satellite tv for pc tags are anticipated to transmit knowledge for at the least one yr. This system, the minister added, displays Egypt’s dedication to biodiversity safety and science-based marine conservation insurance policies.
The monitoring program follows a number of deadly shark assaults lately, together with incidents close to Marsa Alam in 2024, Hurghada in 2023 and 2022, and Sharm el-Sheikh in 2010. The assaults prompted momentary seashore closures and raised considerations over shark habits within the Pink Sea.
