Egyptian Tourism Ministry decided on Saturday to reopen Sharm al-Sheikh beaches after divers from the Chamber of Diving and Water Sports (CDWS) and the Environment Ministry combed seven spots in the sea following a shark attack that left three tourists injured.
Meanwhile, experts warned of the repercussions of overfishing, which they say leads to such attacks.
Hesham Zazou, first assistant to the Minister of Tourism, said Minister of Tourism Zoheir Garanah has received official reports confirming that the area is now safe for water activities. The report is based on the combing of seven locations in the water.
Zazou added that over a period of 350 years, attacks recorded by the type of shark which attacked the three Russian tourists in Sharm al-Sheikh does not exceed nine incidents, which demonstrates that the likelihood of shark attacks reoccurring is extremely low. He also said that overfishing is a likely cause for the change in the behavior of sharks.
Hesham Gabr, chairperson of the CDWS, said tourists flocked to Sharm al-Sheikh beaches soon after they were reopened, adding that diving is one of the major tourist attractions in the Red Sea.
Gabr, too, warned of the repercussions of overfishing. He said that a study must be conducted to explain the change in the sharks’ behaviour, especially since beach tourism contributes 66 percent of Egypt's total income from tourism.
Gabr further revealed that illegal fishing activities need to be addressed seriously and that fishing must be banned in certain areas where it is still permitted.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
