An Egyptian security searches for sharks in the waters in which a German tourist fell victim to a shark attack in Sharm el-Sheikh December 6, 2010 (Photo: Reuters)
In one of the first international reactions to the decision of the governor of South Sinai to open Ras Mohammed National Park for fishing, the Tourism Promotion Authority and the Chamber of Diving Tourism and Marine Activities received a formal letter from Scuba Travel Company, the largest source of British tourists for diving in the Red Sea and Sinai, inquiring whether the reports of a resumption of fishing in the natural reserve are true.
Tony Parkerist, owner of the company, which sends 50,000 English tourists a year to Egypt, said that he heard about the decision from Western and Egyptian media and could not believe it. He also expressed his surprise at the decision which allows fishing in such a rare and important natural reserve, whatever the justification.
Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association (HEPCA) also issued a statement saying that, "The South Sinai governor’s recent decision to permit fishing within the Ras Mohammed National Park boundaries is not only illegal but ecologically and economically disastrous, as well as being devastating to the sanctity of the rule of environmental regulations".
The internationally-recognised NGO specialising in the field of marine and land conservation was founded in 1992 by 12 representatives of the diving community, in response to serious environmental threats affecting the Red Sea’s delicate and pristine eco-system. HEPCA also added that "for what reasons the governor of South Sinai has decided to completely disregard all recommendations by experts, responsible administrative authorities for Ras Mohammed, laws ratified by parliament, ministerial decrees, prime-ministerial decrees the law and simple logic, cannot be explained."
The governor of South Sinai, Abdul Fadil Shousha, has given permission to 56 fishing boats to function in the protected area, and stressed that professionals had been consulted and that the decision will not have a negative effect on the fish there.
The governor's decision has stirred a lot of anger from tourism companies and environmental activists, who asked the Ministry of Environment to interfere to stop what they consider to be a preach of international law.
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