Environment Ministry urges tourists to stay away from whale sharks
The Egyptian Ministry of Environment has followed up on tourist complaints regarding shark sightings in the Laguna area of Dahab, South Sinai Governorate.
Environment Minister Yasmine Fouad on Tuesday ordered the South Sinai Protected Areas team to investigate news reports confirming the sighting of a whale shark off the coast of the city.
The South Sinai Protected Areas team tracked the shark and found it was sighted last Saturday. As it is a whale shark, it poses no threat to humans.
The minister called for fully adhering to responsible environmental behavior when dealing with rare marine creatures, particularly whale sharks, to avoid any risks or injuries that may result from their reactions.
Fouad indicated that excessively approaching whale sharks or attempting to catch them could lead to unintended human injuries due to their large size and powerful movement.
The whale shark is one of the most important components of the Red Sea marine ecosystem, she said, as it plays a key role in sustaining the balance of this unique ecosystem.
It is the largest fish species, reaching approximately 18 meters in length and weighing approximately 15 tons. Its maximum lifespan is estimated at around 100 years.
Fouad added that the whale shark is one of the more widespread fish species, having been observed worldwide in tropical and subtropical water bodies. It often lives alone, but sometimes appears in large groups. It has also been observed in the southern Red Sea and off the coast of Qatar.
It is distinguished by its dark color, interspersed with light lines and circles, in addition to its large mouth and dorsal fin, which sometimes appears above the water surface in shallow areas.
The Minister also noted that the whale shark is listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species due to the human pressures it faces, such as bycatch, vessel collisions, and overfishing.
The Ministry of Environment called on all citizens and concerned authorities to refrain from approaching whale sharks within 15 meters and to refrain from using boats of any kind in areas where they are found to avoid harming the creatures.
The ministry also called to stop using fishing gear incompatible with the Red Sea's marine environment, such as trawls nets, given the danger they pose to this rare species, which is a major tourist attraction due to its distinct environmental and economic value on Egypt's coasts.
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