Photos of dead sheep in the Red Sea that have surfaced on social media have caused alarm in Egypt. The dumping of animal carcasses from passing ships could attract sharks to coastal areas and lead to tragedy, as has happened in the past.
A Recurring Problem
Almost every year, the story repeats itself: ships carrying live cargo - sheep - pass through the Red Sea in huge numbers in the run-up to the Eid al-Adha (Qurban Bayram) holiday. They are transported to countries in the region, but not all the animals survive the journey, and the dead sheep are simply dumped at sea.
Photos of the carcasses floating on the surface of the water were taken recently in the Ras Mohammed nature reserve on the Sinai Peninsula, and a similar scene was observed near Hurghada.
Danger Posed by Sharks
In December 2010, the blood of the animals attracted sharks to the coast of Sharm el-Sheikh, which attacked people.Then, as a result of two incidents, a German citizen died and four other people, including three Russians, were seriously injured by shark bites.
Legal Prohibition and Investigation
Meanwhile, Egyptian law strictly prohibits the dumping of carcasses of dead animals into the sea. A law passed 30 years ago provides for high fines for violations of the rules for the transport of live cargo.
Following the incident, the Egyptian Ministry of Environment launched an official investigation, seeking to bring to justice the owners of the ships that were transporting the livestock.
Other Measures
Other measures were also taken: Minister Yasmine Fouad ordered the carcasses of the animals to be fished out of the sea and buried on land. Environmentalists, together with divers and tourism representatives, combed through the areas where carcasses had been seen - nothing suspicious was seen in the water anymore.
Expert Opinion and Call for Action
As Mahmoud Abdel Rady Dar, a former director of the Institute of Marine Sciences and Fisheries in Hurghada, said, the dumping of dead animals into the sea is one of the main reasons for the change in the natural behavior of sharks and their attacks on humans. These violations, he explained, ultimately lead to changes in the marine ecosystem, have a negative impact on the lives of marine life in general, and also affect tourism. He called for regular patrolling of the Red Sea and stricter controls on ships transporting livestock to avoid such situations and protect the marine environment from any pollution.
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