Scientists Predict More Shark Attacks on Tourists in Egypt

Scientists have warned that sharks will not disappear from the Red Sea, including areas near the Egyptian city of Hurghada. They are natural inhabitants of these deep-water areas, and therefore their attacks on humans are inevitable. This is what distinguishes the Red Sea from Russian seas.

Also, shark behavior is influenced by fish migration through the Suez Canal, fish feeding, and the dumping of food waste from ships — all of which attract predators closer to the beaches. This is the opinion of ecologists interviewed by TASS.

“Most of Hurghada«s beaches are in deep-water zones, which are favorable for sharks. This is a danger zone. Egypt is home to over 40 species of sharks; they are natural inhabitants of the Red Sea and consider everything in the water to be their legitimate prey. Most of them do not pose a threat to humans, but some species are very dangerous, especially the great white shark. Vacationers should remember that this is wild nature, although sharks are recently being influenced by human activity,” said Igor Panarin, editor-in-chief of the magazine »Ekorad«.

According to him, the chain is simple. Due to food waste, fish gather near the beaches. Sharks come after these fish. Then, unfortunately, tragic scenarios for people are possible.

“Experts link some incidents to a combination of factors: mating and spawning seasons, redistribution of the food base due to industrial fishing, as well as fish feeding and dumping of food waste from ships, which attract predators closer to the beaches. Combined with coral destruction, industrial and tourist impact on the Red Sea«s waters, its ecosystem becomes less resilient, which can also change the routes and behavior of sharks,” said Andrey Rudnev, chairman of the all-Russian movement »Ecosystema«.