Egypt's environmental and tourism ministries have launched a massive 48-hour operation in Sharm el-Sheikh to hunt down the sharks that recently attacked tourists, local media said on Tuesday.
The operation involves Egyptian professional divers and biologists as well as foreign specialists aiming to investigate the reasons for the aggressive behavior of sharks which usually do not attack people.
Egyptian specialists believe the recent tragic attacks in the popular resort city, in which one elderly German woman was killed and four people, three Russians and a Ukrainian, were injured, were caused by human interaction on the environment.
"The uncontrolled fishing, pollution of the sea and destruction of corals in the Red Sea for many years have hampered the natural balance. Its recovery will take years and simply catching the sharks around the tourist hotels will not solve the problem," scientists with the Alexandria-based National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries said.
The scientists warned that catching sharks will only aggravate the existing problem and will not help restore the ecosystem in the Red Sea. They also called to introduce a total ban on organizing dangerous excursions offering tourists the chance to feed predatory fish.
"These excursions attract all the sea predators to the coast, including sharks which become excited by the smell of blood and undoubtedly attack tourists who are unaware of the danger in the water," said Mohsen Anwar, who heads Egypt's diving association.
Following the attacks, the Egyptian Tourism Ministry closed all beaches in the resort to ensure the security of tourists. Local authorities said last week two sharks believed to be behind the attacks had been caught and killed.
On Tuesday, Egyptian authorities allowed highly-trained divers who have registered no less than 50 dives to snorkel in the waters off Tiran Island and to the south of Na'ama Bay, Sharm el-Sheikh.
Their safety is guaranteed by the diving centers. Specialists explain the move saying that diving in these areas poses no danger for experienced divers. So far, there have been no reports of any highly-trained divers hurt in recent shark attacks.
The Egyptian authorities also said they were ready to take tourists to safe beaches for free to compensate for the inconveniences following the closure of most areas off the popular Sharm el-Sheikh resort.
The owners of hotels in Sharm el-Sheikh have marked a decrease in the number of travelers following the death of the German tourist on Sunday. However, a spokesman for Egyptair said no flights have been so far canceled.
Egypt is a popular travel destination for Russians during the fall and winter months due to the country's relatively simple visa regime, warm climate, and good diving possibilities.
CAIRO, December 7 (RIA Novosti)
