Egypt continues scientific program to monitor, track sharks in Red Sea

CAIRO – 2 January 2025: To mitigate the risks of shark attacks in the Red Sea, CEO of the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency Ali Abu Senna affirmed that the ministry continues to implement the scientific program to monitor and track sharks in the Red Sea.

This comes after an Italian tourist was attacked by a shark in the Marsa Alam resort early this week

The program aims to identify the scientific reasons behind recent changes in sharks’ behavior and address them—particularly with regard to tiger, mako, and oceanic species. This initiative is crucial for ensuring the safety of tourists and workers in the diving sector, as well as preserving marine activities, Abu Senna continued.

Abu Senna explained that the program focuses on tracking shark movements and studying their environmental behaviors during migration, reproduction, and feeding seasons, where advanced technologies are used to precisely collect and analyze data. This comes as part of a broader national plan aimed at balancing marine conservation with the sustainability of tourism. 

The ministry has provided the necessary funding for the program through national project budgets and foreign funding sources to purchase modern tracking devices and hire specialized international experts. Additionally, four training workshops were organized for researchers, local fishermen, and civil society professionals to enhance their technical skills and improve the overall effectiveness of the program.

Several sea expeditions have been conducted in collaboration with foreign experts to install tracking devices on sharks. These expeditions were carefully timed to avoid interfering with peak tourist seasons, ensuring the safety of tourists and the work teams involved.

Abu Senna emphasized that the initial results are promising. Multiple methods and techniques were tested during shark tagging operations, and important data has been collected. Efforts are now focused on analyzing this data to better understand shark movements and address potential issues that may arise based on these findings.

The CEO clarified that the tracking devices currently used store information over time and only transmit data when the device reaches the surface, is in a correct position, and is connected to a satellite. This means that direct results cannot be obtained quickly, as data is only accessible when the device is above water. Consequently, achieving the desired outcomes will take time, with a period of up to 5 years to ensure data accuracy and the effectiveness of solutions.

In addition to monitoring sharks, the program also aims to address environmental issues impacting their behavior, such as overfishing, marine waste disposal, water pollution, and the regulation of marine activities. Abu Senna stressed that this program represents a pioneering step in marine conservation and sustainable tourism. He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to balancing development with the protection of natural resources, strengthening Egypt’s position as a global leader in environmental tourism.

On December 29, 2025, Egypt declared a state of emergency and banned swimming in Marsa Alam resort after a tourist was killed and another was injured in a shark attack. Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad ordered an investigation in the incident in coordination with the Red Sea Governorate and the concerned authorities to determine the causes of the incident.