South Sinai governor, Abdel Fadeel Shousha, issued a decision banning all forms of recreational fishing at Aqaba bay for both locals and tourists. The area targeted by the new measure extends from the southern area of Ras Mohamed Governorate in Sharm al-Sheikh, to the northern Nabq, and covers all resort beaches. The Aqaba Bay has been categorized as a natural reserve as per a prime ministerial decree in 1992. On the other hand, snorkeling activities were resumed at Ras Mohamed in order to meet rising tourist demand. For its part, the Chamber of Diving and Watersports (CDWS), hailed Shousha's decision. The chamber's diving official, Ziyad al-Basel, said that the chamber had discovered that several tourism companies were organizing sport fishing trips at Sharm al-Sheikh and Dahab using mostly unlicensed boats. He added that these companies allow tourists to practice fishing near coral reefs, thus damaging the areas ecological balance. Al-Basel noted that the ban has been published on the chamber's website and circulated among all member companies at Sinai and the Red Sea. He stressed that violators will be tracked and punished in accordance with the law. Translated from the Arabic Edition.
