S.O.S FOR THE DOLPHINS AT SHAB SAMADAI REEF

To:  GOE

S.O.S FOR THE DOLPHINS AT SHAB SAMADAI REEF
WADI GIMAL PROTECTORATE, RED SEA, EGYPT

Non-eco-friendly Dolphin Watch Tours, which are heavily advertised and organized by tour operators in Hurghada endanger the survival of a small local population of Spinner Dolphins in Egyptian waters, located at Shab Samadai Reef near Marsa Alam.

Scientific research on this species in Hawaii has shown that Spinner Dolphins feed at night in deep waters and rest during daytime in shallow bays and reef lagoons, where the animals also mate and females give birth and suckle their young…

Every nature lover will therefore be truly shocked by witnessing the increasing hordes of visitors which are being forced upon the Egyptian Spinner Dolphins at Shab Samadai day after day.

Eyewitnesses report approx. 3o boats daily, with 2o to 4o passengers on board each vessel heading to Shab Samadai on a regular basis. One has not to be a trained marine biologist to worry about this situation, while those day-trips are having an enormously damaging impact on the dolphin's behaviour and their natural habitat. Since the tours are not closely monitored by National Park Rangers, reef damage caused by anchors and pollution are already severe in this area. A total ban for anchoring boats, which has been established in 2002 by the EEAA (Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency) for instance, is being widely ignored by boat captains and crews. Heavy pollution of the sea caused by human waste and garbage, or oil and fuel leaks from badly maintained boats, has already fouled the once pristine waters of Shab Samadai Reef. Not to mention the crowds of people in the lagoon and under water, the racing zodiacs with roaring outboard-engines, handled by irresponsible boatmen who try to direct the dolphins towards their excited guests, etc., etc…

These Dolphin-Watch-Tours have nothing to do with Eco-Tourism, on the contrary they're highly environmentally unsound and purely profit-oriented (78,- Euros per person) It's an unworthy spectacle, causing much stress to the dolphins unnecessarily and heartbreak to every true dolphin-lover.

Every diver, snorkeler, tourist, tour guide and -operator should be aware of the sad fact that each ticket sold will only lead faster to the destruction, or worse extinction of another gem of Egyptian wildlife: instead of being saved and protected, as it should be, according to Egyptian Environmental Law (since 1982) and National Park regulations, a species of precious marine mammals is being sacrificed on the altar of profit-making and mass tourism. The loss of these magnificent animals will be enormous, not only for Egypt but all mankind.

For the sake and welfare of our Spinner Dolphins at Shab Samadai Reef, we, the undersigned concerned local and foreign animal lovers - beg the responsible Egyptian authorities urgently, to save and protect all marine mammals in the Red Sea and to investigate organized Dolphin Watch-Tours thoroughly. Thank you very much!

Renate Hubinger

ESAF - Member / Hurghada

Dr. Hanafi (EEAA Hurghada)
MHanafy@eepp-psu.org
Mobile: 012 229 1609

Dr. Moustafa Fouda (Director of EEAA - Nature Conservation Sector)
Foudamos@link.net
eeaa4@idsc.gov.eg

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The S.O.S FOR THE DOLPHINS AT SHAB SAMADAI REEF Petition to GOE was created by ESAF and written by Renate Hubinger.  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.

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