Risk of shark attacks: How Egypt will protect tourists

Egypt is one of the favorite destinations for Poles who go on vacation with travel agencies. Swimming in the Red Sea is not completely risk-free, however.

Hurghada24 reports on new guidelines to protect holidaymakers from shark attacks. Egypt's Ministry of Environment has published them in connection with the approaching summer season. First of all, each beach must have navigation buoys informing bathers of the beginning of the "deep water" line (i.e. two meters).

"Tourists should not enter the water alone, but in groups, under the care of trained and qualified lifeguards. There must be a motorboat on the beach of each hotel that can be used to carry out a quick rescue operation" - hurghada24.pl quotes the guidelines.

Each beach must have a lifeguard observation tower at least five meters high. In addition, you must be vigilant and immediately report to the hotel staff any attempts by people to feed fish or birds or to throw food remains into the water.

Sharks in Egypt: These are the rules you need to know

Please also remember other important rules:

• It is forbidden to swim in the Red Sea early in the morning and after sunset.
• Avoid wearing shiny swimsuits, going into the water with jewelry or wearing a watch.
• You cannot enter the sea if you are injured or bleeding, even a small scratch must be treated
• Avoid swimming alone in open spaces.
• If you spot a shark, try to stay calm and move away from your group – sudden movements can provoke an attack.

People who break these rules will not be able to receive compensation in the event of an attack or tragedy.

How common are attacks?

There are no ideal solutions to protect swimmers in this body of water. It is worth remembering that the Red Sea is a natural habitat for sharks, even 45 species of these fish. Those that are dangerous to humans include the great white shark, tiger shark and hammerhead shark. Nets protecting swimming areas do not have to fulfill their role at all. Experts warned that if plants settle on such barriers, smaller fish will swim up to them. Sharks looking for food may swim after them. Sharks usually do not attack people because they are hungry, but because they feel threatened.

Over the past 15 years, 20 people have been attacked or killed by sharks in the Red Sea, with seven attacks occurring between 2021 and 2024, according to a report by the National Institute of Marine Sciences in Hurghada.

Read also: Two Russian divers are dead. First they were carried away by the water, then they were attacked by a shark Read also: Two shark attacks in 90 minutes. Three people were injured