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Fish stocks under threat

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.