Sharks have been on the planet for around 400 million years, and as leading predators they play a major role in marine ecosystems. Often misunderstood, sharks are also particularly vulnerable. Each year, more than 100 million sharks are killed to meet the demand of the international shark trade. Three sharks die every second.

On a local level in the Red Sea, shark fishing had also become a worrying issue. HEPCA, together with the National Parks of the Red Sea, and with extensive support from the Red Sea Governor, has led a comprehensive campaign to secure a decree, banning shark fishing in the Egyptian Red Sea.

The decree, issued by the Fisheries Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, overrides previous decrees and extends to not only banning shark fishing, but also the serving of shark meat in restaurants. This decree ensures Egypt’s compliance to international agreements such as the Convention on International Trading of Endangered Species (CITES) signed in Washington in March 1973.

As a result of this campaign, the Shark Project, one of the most reputable shark and environmental protection schemes in the world, named The Arab Republic of Egypt as the Shark Guardian of the Year 2006.

LATEST NEWS... The world's first underwater Shark Monument has been placed near to the popular dive site of Gota Abu Ramada, Hurghada, Red Sea. The Monument raises awareness of the importance of sharks to the marine ecosystem and their vulnerability in the face of extinction. Find out more in our news section or download the press release.