HEPCA is working with HE General Magdi Kubeissi, the Governor of the Red Sea, to support his decree that the Red Sea will be the first plastic bag free Governorate in Egypt with effect from 1st January 2009.

This decree represents a considerable step forward in tackling the many issues caused by excess rubbish and in particular plastic bags in the Red Sea environment. Plastic bags pose a massive hazard to birds, turtles, dolphins and other marine creatures that are killed in alarming numbers each year after swallowing or becoming entangled in plastic bags blown out to sea.

Turtles easily mistake plastic bags for yummy jellyfish. Once in the stomach, the indigestible plastic wraps itself around the intestines of the creature and it slowly starves to death. This year, HEPCA has seen an increase in the number of dead turtles washed up on the shores of the Red Sea. Plastic bags and other rubbish are undoubtedly to blame in many cases.

Typically plastic bags are used for only 20 minutes before being thrown out; but they will each take up to 1,000 years to rot away. During their long decay millions of bags litter and pollute our streets, the desert, and are blown out to sea where they become a toxic plastic soup that threatens the existence of marine and wild life.

The Red Sea campaign follows many high profile campaigns in Europe to limit this most damaging form of pollution. The government in Ireland introduced a bag tax, which led to a 90 per cent reduction after its introduction in 2002. In 2007, the biggest supermarkets in France imposed a ban on free carriers. They now charge between 2p and 42p for reusable bags. This has removed millions of free bags from high streets and the French government will impose an outright ban in 2010.

HEPCA will be working alongside the Governorate to suggest practical solutions and alternatives for plastic bags. As part of the campaign in support of this decree we will also be undertaking education initiatives and lobbying activities.

Watch this space for more on this pioneering campaign coming soon.

HEPCA is extremely honoured to welcome the esteemed Professor, Dr. Mahmoud Hanafy, as a member of the HEPCA team.

Dr. Hanafy is an eminent Marine Biologist and a Professor from Suez Canal University. He is one of the most respected experts in the field of Marine Biology, and is particularly well known for his specialist research and work in conservation and fisheries. Dr. Hanafy also works as a Special Advisor to the National Parks of the Red Sea, and also the Red Sea Governorate.

HEPCA is delighted that Dr. Hanafy has agreed to join the HEPCA staff as Scientific Advisor where he will be responsible for establishing the scientific arm of our organisation. This is an area that HEPCA has long wished to develop, which will greatly complement our existing work, and assist us tremendously in achieving our objectives.

Dr. Hanafy has already worked together with the HEPCA team for many years in an advisory capacity. His technical assistance has had a significant bearing on the success of such projects and campaigns as the fight for Giftun Island, the Shark Project, the campaign to stop oil drilling in the Red Sea, and many legislation issues.

We look forward to working together with Dr. Hanafy to further our commitment towards conservation throughout the Red Sea region.

With fish stocks in the Red Sea under serious threat, HEPCA is joining together with the CDWS and SSDM in an initiative working towards declaring the Red Sea a NO CATCH ZONE.

The National Authority of Fisheries recently issued a decree banning all fishing in the Egyptian Red Sea for a period of three months. Sadly, this decree was not observed. Exceptions were taken and fishing continued in parts of the Red Sea with the justification of the social needs of the fishermen and their families.

According to statistics, the fish catch from the area of the Gulf of Aqaba, and from Hurghada to the deep South, represents just 2% of the total fish catch from the Egyptian Red Sea. Essentially, by destroying these fish stocks, we are sacrificing tourism in the region and the natural resources of the Red Sea for just 2% of the fish catch. The revenue from this 2% catch is clearly minute compared to the total income from tourism in the Red Sea.

The Red Sea is actually one of the poorest fish grounds in the region. Our lack of rainwater, rivers and floods make for a very poor fish habitat. Fish stocks are almost wholly dependent on the delicate reef ecosystems that delight four million tourists in the Red Sea each year. By forcibly removing the fish, which resembles 30% of the economic value of the reef, we are also condemning the reefs of the Red Sea to certain death. In time, the Red Sea will resemble nothing more than an ugly, empty lake.

This campaign requires that all stakeholders and agencies stand together and take positive actions to secure the future. In this initiative, we will be building on the many positive steps taking by SSDM since the end of 2007, in association with the National Parks of Egypt, the Minister of Tourism, the CDWS and the Governorate of South Sinai.

Obviously we will not ignore the social dimension, and the effects of such a declaration on the lives of the Red Sea fishermen. There are more than 1000 fishing boats, and at least 3600 fishermen who rely on the Red Sea to provide for their families. HEPCA will be working with our partners to minimise any potential social damage and to work on positive solutions to encompass this change.

We strongly believe that lobbying for the cause to declare the Red Sea a NO CATCH ZONE is in the national and international interests of our region and something that should concern each and every one of us.

Watch this space for more information coming soon.