In October 2009, HEPCA divers teamed up with GUE Egypt (Global Underwater Explorers) and Colona Divers in a project to install new moorings to secure the wreck and improve the safety of diving her. It is hoped that more and more technical divers will come to appreciate diving this unique wreck as the ship is almost entirely intact and the accommodation area easy to explore. Her masts rise up to around 15m below the surface.

The Hebat Allah project also recognises the importance of this wreck as an artificial reef in offering a unique marine research opportunity to monitor reef growth from a baseline of her sinking five years ago. An initial assessment of marine life and coral presence was undertaken in October and recorded some extensive fish life including groupers, lionfish, many schooling fish and also a turtle. There were several coral species, including some hard corals, but their current poor coverage is likely to be due to both the depth of the wreck and also the fact that it lies some distance away from an established coral reef.

Going forward, HEPCA and GUE Egypt, with the support of Colona Divers, are intending to dive the Hebat Allah frequently with the following goals of the project in mind:

1. To maintain the constant presence of the mooring lines (previous lines have been lost due to fishing activity and incorrect mooring practices) in order to maximise the Hebat Allah’s potential as a safe and exciting technical diving site

2. To survey and document the coral growth and marine life diversity at depths greater than 35m, thereby using the Hebat Allah as a valuable marine research site, as well as continuous monitoring of the overall condition of the wreck.

Paper bags are currently being supplied by the large majority of retailers including supermarkets, restaurants and other businesses. Paper has a significantly lower impact on the environment than plastic but we need to minimise the use of ALL bags.

By far the most environmentally friendly solution is for bag users to REUSE existing bags, and switch to cloth bags where possible. So far HEPCA has distributed 50,000 cloth bags for free in the Red Sea area to support the decree.

HEPCA would like to thank everyone who has contributed in support of this campaign. Special thanks are due to HE the Governor and all our partners and sponsors including Egyptian Resorts Company (Developer of Sahl Hasheesh) and Barclays Bank. In addition, HEPCA would like to thank those working in the vocational training centres in Hurghada, Safaga and Ras Gharib, where many additional job opportunities were created for women manufacturing the cloth bags for this campaign.

Please continue to support this campaign and add pressure to those who do not comply with the ban. Each and every one of us has a responsibility to help keep the Red Sea plastic bag free.

Tel: +20 65 344 5035
Fax: +20 65 344 6674
Email: info@hepca.com

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

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

Linkback: http://www.hepca.com/red-sea-plastic-bags.aspx

• No swimming and snorkelling in waters where this and other large species of sharks are known to frequent
• No deliberate feeding of this species or the dumping of waste from boats which may attract this and other potentially dangerous sharks (both activities are illegal in Egyptian waters)
• No SCUBA diving without an experienced dive guide in waters where this species is known to frequent
• In areas such as the Far Islands, where this species is frequently observed, it is advisable that divers enter (and are retrieved from) the water as close as possible to the reef.
• In areas such as the Far Islands it is illegal to be involved in any night diving activities.
• Dive in groups and keep close together.
• Two dive guides should accompany each group.
• Divers should leave the water immediately if sharks display signs of aggression such as nudging or circling divers, or moving rapidly towards them.
• Report to HEPCA any incidents of aggressive behaviour by these animals towards divers, and
• Report to HEPCA the names of vessels whose divers or crew are observed feeding or baiting sharks.

Until recently, the Egypt Red Sea diving industry had an impressive track record of safely introducing divers to one of the largest and wide-ranging predators on the planet. With your help we would like to rebuild that record. For more information of this species in the Egyptian Red Sea go to: http://www.longimanus.info/species-info.htm (Unless specifically mentioned, all photographs taken by Elke Bojanowski ©)
HEPCA

The Hurghada Declaration could only have come about by individuals with great foresight and a desire to do the right thing for future generations. HEPCA wishes to applaud the following for their courage and wisdom to sign the Hurghada Declaration: H.E General Magdy Qubeisy the Red Sea Governor; H.E General Mohamed Galal the Suez Governor; H.E General Mohamed Metwaly the South Sinai Governor; H.E Amin Abaza the Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation; H.E Zohair Garrana the Minister of Tourism; and H.E Eng. Maged George the Minister for Environmental Affairs. In addition to those mentioned above, HEPCA wish to thank the following individuals and organisations for their support at making the Declaration a reality: Chamber of Diving and Water Sports, SSDM, The National Parks of Egypt and last but least Dr. Mahmoud Hanafy the science advisor for Hepca and the Red sea Governor.

Importantly, signing of the Declaration is only the first step in this long-term process. Next is the challenge to ensure compliance of the new laws and consistent enforcement when these laws are broken. This is where we need your assistance. We need you to act as the eyes for HEPCA and the authorities responsible for enforcement. The Egyptian Red Sea is too large for any one organisation to patrol and police. You can help by reporting illegal actions such as net fishing, trawling south of the Gulf of Suez or any forms of fishing in the newly created marine reserves. If you have queries concerning the Hurghada Declaration, the new laws, and how they might apply to you and your business please contact HEPCA.