Egypt’s Red Sea coast, rich in beautiful corals and colorful aquatic creatures, has been a major tourist attraction for sun, sea, and fun. However, recent shark attacks have given a gloomy look to these beautiful waters and raised many questions regarding the safety of swimmers and divers. The most recent case was on September 13, 2023, when a shark attack was reported in Dahab, a popular tourist destination in Egypt, to which the government responded quickly by closing the beaches.
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The Latest Attack in Dahab
The attack that saw an Egyptian woman critically injured has therefore caused anxiety among the locals as well as tourists. The woman, who was swimming at Laguna Beach in Dahab said to have been attacked by the shark while trying to touch it thinking it was a tuna fish. Unfortunately, the two met, and in the process, she had to lose her left arm. She was then taken to the nearest hospital, and after being attended to, she was stabilized. To this event, Egypt’s Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad quickly directed her ministry to investigate to know what could have caused the attack.
A Pattern of Increasing Shark Attacks
This is not the first time that such an attack has been made. In the last few years, Shark attacks on the Red Sea coast of Egypt have been on the rise. This has been blamed on a number of factors, such as overfishing, which reduces the sharks’ food supply, and increased development of coastal tourism, which intrudes on the sharks’ territory.
Another Russian citizen died from the attack of a shark in June 2023 near the resort of Hurghada in the Red Sea. The 23-year-old man, who had been staying in Egypt for several months, was bitten by a tiger shark while swimming near the coast. The attack that was recorded and distributed online caused outrage across the globe and resulted in the closure of a 50-mile-long beach.
These are some of the events that have taken place in the recent past and they are quite worrying. Two shark attacks, which led to death, took place in Hurghada in 2022. Within a short period, an Austrian and a Romanian tourist lost their lives. In 2020, a twelve-year-old boy from Ukraine and an Egyptian tour guide were also attacked by a shark in Sharm El Sheikh; the boy lost his arm, and the guide lost his leg. These incidents have therefore raised concerns among both the tourists and the locals, resulting in enhanced attention on safety precautions on the Red Sea coast.
Government Response and Safety Measures
As a result of these attacks, the Egyptian government has taken certain precautionary measures to ensure the safety of tourists, especially those at the beaches. In the aftermath of the September 13th attack, all the beaches in Dahab were closed, and water activities were banned. This precautionary closure allows the authorities to conduct further investigation into the incident and ensure that no further attack will happen.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Environment has said that it will place tracking devices on sharks in the Red Sea. These devices will help marine scientists track the sharks’ movement and activities, which may help avoid such incidents in the future. The ministry is also engaging the local authorities to ensure that there are strict measures on water-related activities, especially in areas prone to shark attacks.
The Impact on Tourism
Shark attacks have affected Egypt’s tourism sector in a huge way since tourism is one of the biggest revenue-generating sectors in Egypt. The Red Sea tourism industry, which comprises destinations such as Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh, and Dahab, receives tens of millions of tourists every year and generates about 15% of Egypt’s national income. However, cases of shark attacks have made the tourists lose confidence to travel to the particular area as they may consider other options.
The tourism sector, which is still suffering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and political unrest, can only afford to be left with tourists. This dilemma for the Egyptian government is that the country has to ensure safety while at the same time ensuring that tourists keep coming in. In this respect, the authorities have been very active in addressing the situation, closing the beaches, and increasing precautionary measures for the tourists.
Expert Recommendations and Preventive Measures
Nonetheless, attacks have been on the rise, and professionals are quick to note that the likelihood of being bitten by a shark is still very rare. According to its International Shark Attack File, the chances of dying from a shark attack are estimated to be about 1 in four million. But there are measures that swimmers and divers can take in order to minimize the likelihood of such cases even more.
Authorities and marine experts recommend the following safety tips:
- Avoid swimming at dawn, dusk, or night, as sharks are more active during these times.
- Stay in groups when swimming, as sharks are more likely to target individuals.
- Avoid splashing excessively, as it can attract sharks by mimicking the movements of prey.
- Do not enter the water if you have an open wound, as sharks are attracted to blood.
- Stay close to shore, where you can quickly exit the water if needed.
Shark attacks are very rare, and in the event of an encounter, it is recommended that one aim at the shark’s eyes, gills, or snout.
Conclusion
Shark attacks have been on the rise in Egypt even though they are not very frequent; however, the government is doing all it can to ensure the safety of its people and visitors. Maintaining the marine environment while protecting the tourists is a difficult one. Still, with more attention and emphasis on the problem, it is hoped that such shark attacks in Egypt will be reduced in the future.
