Our News

Clean-Ups June 2014

Marine debris remains to be one of the most crucial problems of the Red Sea, all the debris that finds its way to the water, or to the beaches present a real threat to marine life, and turtle nesting areas. That's why in Hepca we regularly organize clean up days in the different islands and beaches of the Red Sea. On Saturday the 21st of June, two clean ups were conducted, the first was underwater and beach clean-up at Marsa Asaliy with the helping hands of students of Anglia Ruskin University UK and Marsa Shagra￢ﾀﾙs diving team. While in Marsa Abu Dabbab a group of students from Marsa Alam Primary school have collected huge quantities of plastic bags and plastic bottles from the Abu Dabbab Valley and enjoyed the rest of their day having snorkeling and swimming at the Abu Dabbab beach. HEPCA would like to thank the participants in both clean ups for their unstinting support. Hepca would like to thank Red Sea Diving Safari, Anglia Ruskin University UK and Blue Ocean Marsa Alam for their continuous support to preserve the red sea natural resources. And on World Environment Day, the 5th of June, Hepca organized a clean up in Wadi el Gimal Island. Wadi El Gimal Island with its stunningly clear waters and white beaches is considered to be one of the most beautiful islands in the Red Sea. The island fringed by coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangrove stands, and an extensive intertidal flat, is also a haven for dolphins, dugongs, marine turtles, and an array of seabirds. Wadi El Gimal Island is recognized as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International (IBA). Due to wave motion, wind and currents, a large amount of solid waste ends up on the island and represents a threat to the wildlife. On June the 5th, in occasion of World Environment Day, a group of volunteers has conducted a cleanup on the Island and collected a huge quantity of waste (mainly plastic bottles and bags). HEPCA would like to thank all the volunteers from Marsa Alam primary school and Roaya Association for their enthusiastic participation. We are very grateful to Wadi El Gemal Dive Centre and Shams Alam hotel Shams Diving Centers for providing all support needed to carry out the event.