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HEPCA responds to reports of coral reef destruction in Makadi Bay

Reference to the videos that was shared yesterday in the social media and the reports we received regarding the corals destruction violation in Makadi Bay . Hurghada Environmental Protection & conservation Association (HEPCA) contacted and collaborated immediately with the Red Sea protectorates who formed an emergency team to investigate the incident to get to the bottom of this story and take the necessary legal actions to stop this violations. After inspecting and investigating the incident it was found that this violation was done by one of the resorts in Makadi bay while they were doing maintenance to their drainage pipes. The Red Sea protectorates are currently evaluating the damage in order to take the necessary legal actions against the violators and decide the necessary penalties and compensations. HEPCA would like to state also the following: 1-Hurghada Environmental Protection & conservation Association (HEPCA) is an NGO concerned with the conservation and protection of the Red Sea natural resources, and it is not from our authority to give any kind of approvals for such destructive practices and our main aim is to fight such practices . 2- Although the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency approved the desalination of water directly into the sea. HEPCA strongly disagree with this practice as we believe that we shouldn't residue either desalinated water or sewage because it will affect the marine environment of the Red Sea. 3- We believe that the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency had gave their approval based on some regulations that was not carefully scientifically studied due to the following reasons: A-The Red Sea environmental system is sensitive for that kind of practices. B-The assumption that the wastewater disposal at a distance of 500 meters from the coast line will have a minimal impact on the marine environment is a wrong assumption because the Red Sea coral reefs can reach a width of 500 meters which means that they will still be affected. C-The Red sea resources from coral reefs which represents the base for the Red Sea biodiversity and represents a main attraction for the diving and tourism industry are very limited and such practices have very harmful effects on the short and long term to the environment and tourism. Our previous experiences in the past two decades in the areas that have done such practices showed severe damages for the coral reefs in this areas, therefore we demand the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency to take this as a guidance and a reference to stop such wrong practices. We express our thanks to everyone who contributes in reporting such violations as it enables HEPCA and any relevant authorities to perform our duties to (our/the) Red Sea Environment.