As part of the ongoing cooperation between the Regional Organization for the Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (PERSGA) and the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) – Marine Protected Areas Sector, an awareness program for fishermen operating along Egypt’s Red Sea coast was implemented within the framework of the Sustainable Fisheries (SFISH) Project, funded by the World Bank.

The program included several awareness sessions held at the Red Sea Protectorate offices in Wadi El Gemal, Hamata, and the cities of El Quseir and Hurghada. The sessions addressed the negative impacts of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing on marine biodiversity and its consequences for the sustainability of fishery resources in the Red Sea.

The lectures also highlighted the important role of the Red Sea Protectorates in engaging local communities through sustainable ecotourism projects, which help provide employment and income opportunities for residents of the protected areas.

During the sessions, participating fishermen expressed their commitment to supporting the Ministry of Environment’s efforts to protect marine resources and preserve coral reefs. They also demonstrated awareness of the dangers of certain fishing gear, such as “Sakhawi nets,” which pose threats to endangered marine species, as well as the harmful effects of abandoned nets and fishing gear on coral reefs.

This activity comes within PERSGA’s broader efforts under the World Bank-funded SFISH Project to promote sustainable fishing practices and rebuild fish stocks in the Red Sea, ensuring a balance between marine environmental protection and the livelihoods of coastal communities.