South Sinai Governor Abdel Fadil Shousha on Monday announced the conditional reopening of all Sharm al-Sheikh beaches, including north Naama Bay and Ras Nasrani--where the shark attacks occurred. The beaches were closed in early December, after a spate of shark attacks killed one tourist and severely injured four others. Water activities such as skiing, parasailing and glass-bottomed boat trips, which were banned following the attacks, are set to resume. The decision is contingent on the implementation of cordoned-off and heavily surveilled beach “pools,” as well as the installation of watchtowers. Zodiac rescue boats with trained and qualified first-responders on hand will also be provided, according to the decision. South Sinai Governorate sources told Al-Masry Al-Youm that Sharm's resorts have begun efforts to meet the necessary provisions, as they will not be allowed to resume any water activities until having done so. Non-compliant hotels will be subject to fines and penalties. Other conditions which the governorate has ratified as local law include restrictions on leisure swimming in deep waters (any area more than two meters in depth). The sources added that activities already designated as illegal, such as fish feeding and polluting, will be more strictly penalized given the environmental considerations brought to light in the wake of the attacks.
