Minister: North Coast Beaches "Safe" from Shark Attacks

The Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad affirmed that the Egyptian North Coast, overlooking the Mediterranean sea, is safe from shark attacks.

"North Coast beaches are safe. No incidents of shark attacks on humans have been previously reported in its scope," Fouad said.

This comes in the wake of a report from the Environment Office in Marsa Matrouh governorate stating that a citizen had entered Al Alamein Hospital following an allegation of a shark attack while swimming in a North Coast resort, about 3 km away off the shore.

In this regard, the Minister of Environment issued directives to form an urgent committee of experts on reserves, marine life and the regional branch of the Environmental Affairs Agency; to investigate the incident, and the locations of the rocks.

Fouad stated that the formed committee said that the confirmed information about the accident indicates that the per was not attacked by a shark, and the doctors assigned examined the injury and reported that it was caused by a cut wound with a sharp object and not due to any kind of fish.

"The injury does not match with what is internationally documented for the nature of the injuries that result from shark attacks on humans, and that the injury was caused by a sharp metal object," experts said.

Meantime, the minister referred to the continuation of sea monitoring to reassure citizens and to preserve their safety.

She stressed the need to be careful in spreading rumors that raise confusion among public, and called on citizens to adhere to environmental behaviors and not to undertake any activities that harm natural resources, in order to ensure their sustainability.