Страница для печатиThere has been much news in the international press about the recent shark activity in the waters of Sharm El Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt. Sea Queen Fleet would like to comment on these recent events and explain what is being done about them.
For thousands of years, several species of sharks have inhabited the Red Sea. Regular diving and swimming has taken place in and around Sharm for at least 30 years and many visitors report sightings of grey reef, white-tip reef sharks, leopard sharks, hammerheads, whale sharks and, of course, the oceanic white-tip shark. It is well known to divers, especially safari boat divers who perhaps have encountered a greater amount of shark sightings, that these species cause little concern and usually only appear for a few minutes before swimming away. Indeed, the biggest complaint this summer was about the lack of hammerhead sharks on Jackson Reef in Tiran.
So what happened recently?
In the local dive sites of Sharm there were a number of attacks on swimmers and snorkellors by oceanic white-tip and mako sharks. The sheer ferocity and number of these attacks over a very short period of time, against decades of peaceful interaction, immediately pointed to a sudden and dramatic change in behavior caused by events never encountered here before.
As a result, and for the first time in Sharm’s history, the beaches and dive sites were closed while investigations were carried out to determine the cause. The Ministry of Tourism, through the Governor of the Sinai, invited Egyptian and International experts, including Dr George Burgess, an expert in shark behavior and Director of the International Shark Attack File, to form a team to deal with the problem.
Their findings were announced at a press conference given at the Maritim Jollie Ville Conference Centre in Naama Bay on the 12 December 2010.
Dr Burgess (pictured) told the world’s media that four key factors had brought the predators into shallow waters in the presence of swimmers and snorkellors.
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Unusually warm waters (28c in December is almost unheard of in Sharm El Sheikh)
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Over fishing in the Red Sea, Tuna stocks are way down over the last ten years.
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The incessant feeding of fish by tourists and snorkelers occupying the sea front hotels and the illegal baiting of sharks by some dive and boat operators.
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The illegal dumping of dead sheep carcasses by an international ship passing through the Straits of Tiran 3 weeks earlier.
The latter was blamed as the single most serious incident for the shark attacks and was well documented by the Rescue Service who pulled 35 dead sheep from local dive sites when the first animals were washed ashore. Dr Burgess believes that this sudden and unexpected food source brought in several ocean cruising sharks and when combined with the other three factors created ‘The Perfect Storm’ as he termed it.
When this feeding bonanza ended the sharks were already accustomed to being in the local dive sites, where depths range from just ten meters to drop-offs reaching over 100m. With no dead sheep to feed on the nearest option seemed to be the fish-feeding tourists along the coastline where the attacks took place. There was no mention of whether the victims (all snorkellors) were feeding fish, only that the practice prevailed in the area.
And the solution to the problem?
Following the findings of the team of experts, the Governor of the Sinai announced that several measures would be introduced to allow the eventual return of swimmers and snorkellors to safe waters.
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Rules and regulations regarding illegal baiting and fish feeding have long since been in place but largely ignored. Many offenders have felt that their actions are simply un-environmental rather than negligent or criminal (still not a valid excuse). Hence, until now, the consequences of such actions didn’t result in somebody else’s injury or death. Now that these consequences are possible and even likely, the penalties and punishments for baiting and illegal fishing are to be dramatically increased and likely made criminal.
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A major new awareness campaign is to be launched ensuring that each and every visitor to the Red Sea, via aircraft, hotels, dive centres and other establishments are made fully aware of the rules and regulations and the behavior expected of them when going in or near the sea.
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Hotel and dive centre managers will be made responsible for the actions of their guests and therefore expected to implement signs and awareness facilities wherever necessary.
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Watch towers, patrol boats and trained spotters will be introduced to selected sites where swimming and snorkeling may take place. Warning and information signs will be placed all along the coastline wherever beach access is possible.
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New designated safe areas will be established for swimmers.
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Nets will be considered on a site-specific basis.
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Longer term solutions will involve greater co-operation with surrounding countries to ensure that the actions of one do not affect the environments of others, such as fishing. There will also be a campaign to ensure a greater national capacity in understanding shark behavior.
Meanwhile, Sharm is slowly getting back to normal. So far, there are no reports of any scuba divers being attacked by sharks. Dr Burgess said that divers are better off than swimmers since they are underwater, moving slowly, with good buoyancy control and do not appear to be threatening or attractive to predatory sharks. Even when on the surface, if appropriate behavior is maintained there should be little threat. Divers also receive a greater amount of education during their training about underwater interaction with marine life and are unlikely to be associated by sharks as a food source.
As of today, 20th December 2010, all diving activities may resume and all dive sites have now been re-opened by the Chamber of Diving and Watersports (CDWS). Some restrictions still remain for swimmers and snorkellors although all visitors to Sharm El Sheikh will have some alternative options for these activities.
The above measures, if properly administered and adhered to, will return the sharks to where they belong in the open ocean, no longer attracted to the local reefs by artificial feeding.
Sea Queen Fleet offers its deepest sympathy to the victims and their families involved in the attacks. We also wish to reassure our own guests that all measures required of us to ensure greater awareness and the end of illegal baiting and feeding of fish in diving environments will be taken.
We respectfully encourage all divers, operators, boat crews and guides all over the Red Sea to do the same.
Wishing you a safe and Happy Christmas.
Karim Fayed
Managing Partner
Sea Queen Fleet
