The authorities want to solve the situation with sharks in Hurghada radically – and install “anti-shark” barriers along the entire territory of the resort coast. This was announced by Major General Amr Hanafi, the governor of the Red Sea, who proposed to install protective nets along the entire beach area as a precautionary measure. However, ecologists doubt the effectiveness of this measure, and, in parallel, a more expensive project of “chipping” all sharks and tracking their movements with sensors is being developed. And for now, tourists are offered lists of hotels where everything is fine with shark nets.
“Egypt is very concerned about the recent tragic incident with a shark attack on a Russian, and now the strengthening of security measures is being discussed at all levels,” experts emphasize, recalling the authorities’ radical decision to erect fences along the entire resort coast. We will remind you that the last tragic and terrible shark attack, the victim of which was a Russian, actually happened on the city beach.
At the same time, representatives of the Egyptian Institute of Oceanography at the resorts spoke against it. According to their estimates, algae are collected on the nets, which are eaten by fish, which in turn attract marine predators, primarily sharks. Instead, ecologists suggested “chipping” the most dangerous sharks. The pilot project, which has already been approved, is divided into two stages, in the first stage, the methodology will be developed and it will be determined which species of sharks and predators of which sizes should be monitored – most likely, it will be about predators over 3 meters long. In the second stage, the sharks will be caught and sensors will be installed on them, after which they will be observed for several months. The third stage includes the analysis of data collected by sensors at different time periods. Obviously, this process will not be quick
Meanwhile, according to tour operators, security measures on the beaches of Hurghada have been strengthened, in particular, additional rescue services have been deployed. Tourists are encouraged to swim only within certain safe zones on beaches and to practice sea sports also in safe places with certified guides.
We will remind you that earlier tour operators compiled lists of safe hotels in Hurghada with shark nets for tourists. There are currently twenty hotels on the list:
- Albatros White Beach Resort
- Albatros Blu Spa
- Albatros Palace Resort Hurghada
- Albatros Jungle Aqua Park By Neverland
- Alf Leila Wa Leila By Neverland
- Water Valley By Neverland
- Albatros Beach Club Abu Soma
- Beach Albatros Resort Hurghada
- Dana Beach Resort
- Desert Rose Resort Hurghada
- Grand Seas By Sunrise (Ex. Protels Grand Seas Resort)
- Mirage Resort & Aquapark
- Mercure Hurghada
- Rixos Premium Magawish
- Labranda Club Makadi Makady Bay
- Labranda Royal Makadi Makady Bay
- Steigenberger Al Dau
- Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel
- Sunrise Holidays
- Swiss Inn Resort Hurghada
Read other details here.