HEPCA is working with HE General Magdi Kubeissi, the Governor of the Red Sea, to support his decree that the Red Sea will be the first plastic bag free Governorate in Egypt with effect from 1st January 2009.
This decree represents a considerable step forward in tackling the many issues caused by excess rubbish and in particular plastic bags in the Red Sea environment. Plastic bags pose a massive hazard to birds, turtles, dolphins and other marine creatures that are killed in alarming numbers each year after swallowing or becoming entangled in plastic bags blown out to sea.
Turtles easily mistake plastic bags for yummy jellyfish. Once in the stomach, the indigestible plastic wraps itself around the intestines of the creature and it slowly starves to death. This year, HEPCA has seen an increase in the number of dead turtles washed up on the shores of the Red Sea. Plastic bags and other rubbish are undoubtedly to blame in many cases.
Typically plastic bags are used for only 20 minutes before being thrown out; but they will each take up to 1,000 years to rot away. During their long decay millions of bags litter and pollute our streets, the desert, and are blown out to sea where they become a toxic plastic soup that threatens the existence of marine and wild life.
The Red Sea campaign follows many high profile campaigns in Europe to limit this most damaging form of pollution. HEPCA is working alongside the Governorate to offer practical solutions and alternatives for plastic bags. As part of the campaign in support of this decree we will also be undertaking educational initiatives and lobbying activities.
Watch this space for more on this pioneering campaign coming soon.
Linkback: http://www.hepca.com/red-sea-plastic-bags.aspx
Red Sea: the first plastic bag free governorate in Egypt
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HEPCA works with PERSGA to spread mooring culture
HEPCA is extremely proud to have been chosen by PERSGA as the implementing partner for this significant project, which aims to spread a best practice mooring culture throughout the entire Red Sea region.
PERSGA is an intergovernmental body dedicated to the conservation of the coastal and marine environments found in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aqaba, Gulf of Suez, Suez Canal, and Gulf of Aden. PERSGA’s member states include: Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
We would like to thank PERSGA for initiating this project and for their ongoing support. Special thanks are also due to the Aqaba authorities and the local diving operators in the Aqaba region for their part in ensuring the success of this project.
HEPCA looks forward to continuing to contribute to this positive technology transfer amongst neighbouring countries and communities in support of the growing environmental consciousness throughout our region.
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