Save the red sea dolphins

[CMChris]

www.thepetitionsite.com/16/stop-dolphin-captivity-in-Egypt

As you have read from Georgina's post about the dolphins being held in a swimming pool in Hurghada, there's now a HEPCA petition to stop a dolphinarium being built there. You can see dolphins from the snorkel and dive boats and they will play with the boats and don't mind you oggling them so why rip a few from their families (pods) and imprison them in a tank. Please could you sign and all you divers pass onto your dive clubs, hopefully we can stop this happening.

 

[wemyss1960]

keep up the good work

Fears for four dolphins kept in dirty 30ft swimming pool | The Sun |News

hopefully something will be done to save these lovely dolphins

 

[Veronica]

Petition signed:smile:

 

[Alan Cockayne]

BUSTED

HEPCA are very pleased to announce that thanks to the collaborative efforts of so many members of the Red Sea community; four shark finning boats have been stopped and more than sixty Yemeni fishermen are currently in custody!

On Sunday night two safari boats: Desmondo and Golden Dolphin 3, managed to corner the boats at Zabargad Island until the official authorities arrived to arrest them; this valiant, collaborative effort from members of the community is the key to the protection of our environment and the sustainability of our natural resources.

On Monday, HEPCA’s own RV Red Sea Defender spotted two more Yemeni shark finning vessels 56km offshore of Hamata; within two hours official authorities had apprehended them.
The process of halting these violators was based on the efforts of many, including: a large number of safari boats that first spotted them, reported them and tracked them, boats that ceased their lines and released over a dozen hooked sharks, local boats that collaborated with the authorities to provide their exact locations and the government authorities that actually stopped the boats and arrested ten fishermen; as well as all those who publicized the issue and provided logistic and moral support.

We would like to thank everyone who took part in this collaborative endeavor to protect the Red Sea environment. This is the perfect example of how community based management and protection works; as a local population we have proven how working together can potentially save our environment from destruction.

We would especially like to highlight the efforts of two safari boats: Eldabaran and Royal Evolution who pulled over eleven kilometers of hooked lines that potentially would have killed dozens of sharks. Their brave work uncovered that the fishing vessels were utilizing dolphin and juvenile shark meat as bait!

Shark de-finning and fishing are criminal acts as they potentially can cause drastic changes to the environment, as apex predators, sharks play a key role in regulating populations and maintaining population structure. It is also economically idiotic; a shark fin sells for about EGP200 while the estimated annual income from the tourism industry, of a single shark at Brothers Islands, is EGP 1,250,000 per year.

Shark fishing and de-finning are legal offences, prohibited and punishable by law, in accordance to regulations set by the Governor of the Red Sea and the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries in 2006. These regulations were put in place after a long campaign fueled by the Red Sea community’s frustration about the depletion of such a valuable natural resource.

Sadly they have now attracted those who wish to exploit our recovering shark populations; but together as a community we have delivered a very strong message to violators. Our message is clear: we will not allow the destructive exploitation of our natural resources and we shall fight for the protection of the Red Sea.

We really like to hear from you. So please do get in touch with us and we will get back to you as soon as possible. To help us respond to your enquiry as efficiently as possible, please use the contact form below for all general enquiries.
Alternatively, you can contact us here:
Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association (HEPCA)
Marriott Hotel, Sheraton Road
Hurghada. Red Sea – Egypt

Tel: +20 65 344 5035 +20 65 344 5035
Fax: +20 65 344 6674
Email: [email protected]
Postal address: Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association (HEPCA)
PO Box 104
Hurghada
Red Sea – Egypt

Alan.

 

[Georgina]

This is the link to HEPCA's website to read the latest news on the Dolphins. As they are not Red Sea dolphins it is not possible to put them in the Red Sea. They have come from Japan specifically for a dolphinarium being built at Makadi. It seems they have found a salt water lake at Sahl Hasheesh to move the dolphins too.

News about the environmental protection of the Red Sea

 

[CMChris]

Hooray, at least the Governor has acted reasonably quickly and this should stop anymore dolphins from being sent.

The Governor of The Red Sea has issued an ultimatum to the owner of the four bottlenose dolphins that were imported to Hurghada on the 15th of August from Japan and have been in appalling conditions ever since, to be moved to a location compliant to national and international standards within 48 hours.

Moreover the Governor has issued a decree to ban the import of any mammal into the Red Sea, with the exception of those born in captivity. This is great news for conservation and an important milestone for our local government as we are not only legislating for local conservation but we have become part of global conservation efforts!

These important achievements are the result of the mobilization of the local community and their outcry against the deplorable conditions the four dolphins have been subjected to. This decree is a clear demonstration of how community participation is the key to conservation.

The path to this achievement was filled on one hand with obstacles and on the other hand with individuals that have committed and dedicated themselves, their time, efforts and expertise to resolve this disgraceful situation. The last few days were filled with suspense and startling events.

Upon the recommendation of the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society and Marine Connection, HEPCA commissioned Dr. Pierre Gallego to provide his abundant experience with captive cetaceans in order to offer the dolphins the best possible care. Dr. Gallego visited the proposed location at Sahl Hasheesh along with a team from HEPCA; water samples were collected for laboratory analysis and some onsite measurements were conducted. The analysis confirmed that the lagoon might have been suitable. Ric O’Barry seconded this conclusion.

Dr. Gallego was given access to the dolphins and to their logbooks but he was unable to perform a full visual examination due to the high turbidity in the pool.

In order for him to provide proper diagnosis of their conditions, blood analysis was recommended to assess the risks to the dolphins themselves and humans. It was scheduled for the morning of Wednesday 29th. HEPCA insured that the required medical equipment had been made available and arrangements were made with a medical laboratory in order for them to calibrate their apparatus for cetaceans.

However, upon their arrival at the “owner’s” villa, the HEPCA team led by Dr. Gallego, were surprised to discover that the entrance to the villa was blocked off by hired thugs, who only allowed Dr. Gallego onto the premises, leaving him without an assistant. The “owner’s” staff was unable to get the dolphins out of the water for the examination and blood sampling, further proving the unacceptable conditions the dolphins have to withstand.

The remainder of the sampling team, which is made up of two marine biologists working on HEPCA’s cetacean research project, were surrounded in the car they were in by some of the thugs, who even attempted to enter the vehicle: the team was harassed and threatened with violence!

A second HEPCA team along with Ric O’Barry attempted to inspect a pool that the “owner” is constructing and stated he would have the dolphins moved in. The team was also treated with aggression and threatened with a bulldozer that began dumping sand a few meters upwind of the team and the truck in order to stop them from being able to see the pool. The team headed to the villa to show Ric O’Barry the location that the dolphins were being held at. They were also harassed by the hired thugs in the street: they tried to steal and destroy the camera the team had, and they opened the vehicle door and attempted to unleash a guard dog into it. HEPCA has begun taking legal actions against the “owner” and his hired thugs for their attack on HEPCA staff and on the HEPCA vehicles and equipment which are considered to be public property.

The new location that the “owner” is preparing was properly inspected on the 30th of September, by Dr. Gallego, HEPCA’s chief scientist Dr. Mahmoud Hanafy, and a governmental committee composed of representatives from the City Council’s Environmental Office, the Governorate’s Environmental Department, the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency, and the Red Sea Rangers. They concluded that the new location is up to the required standards. The “owner’s” representatives pledged that the dolphins would be moved by Sunday.

Although we are all ecstatic that the dolphins shall be relieved from the strenuous conditions they have been suffering under for the last six weeks, the construction of a pool of this size and specifications means the establishment of a dolphinarium in the Red Sea Governorate. The permanent presence of captive dolphins is an issue that HEPCA and all those who have battled for the preservation of the natural environment have fought against for decades, and would be a massive step back in Egyptian conservation efforts.

We therefore call upon the Red Sea community, the Chambers of Diving and Tourism, hotels, diving centres, tour operators and tourists to condemn the dolphinarium industry and boycott all dolphinaria, here in the Red Sea and across the globe.

We invite to join us on Sunday evening at 7:30pm at the New Marina where Ric O’Barry will present his Oscar Award winning documentary: The Cove.

 

[nubianqueen]

sorry i could not be in egypt - the red sea

I would certainly have attended the meeting, and i am so glad that everybody is acting in the interest of beautiful egypt, there are those who want to make feloos, thats all they care about as has happened in my country in africa. it makes me so angry, how come the japanese were able to bring these lovely creatures into the country! (the dolphins) - i dont understand the logistics of how this happened.

nubianqueen



.

The Governor of The Red Sea has issued an ultimatum to the owner of the four bottlenose dolphins that were imported to Hurghada on the 15th of August from Japan and have been in appalling conditions ever since, to be moved to a location compliant to national and international standards within 48 hours.

Moreover the Governor has issued a decree to ban the import of any mammal into the Red Sea, with the exception of those born in captivity. This is great news for conservation and an important milestone for our local government as we are not only legislating for local conservation but we have become part of global conservation efforts!

These important achievements are the result of the mobilization of the local community and their outcry against the deplorable conditions the four dolphins have been subjected to. This decree is a clear demonstration of how community participation is the key to conservation.

The path to this achievement was filled on one hand with obstacles and on the other hand with individuals that have committed and dedicated themselves, their time, efforts and expertise to resolve this disgraceful situation. The last few days were filled with suspense and startling events.

Upon the recommendation of the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society and Marine Connection, HEPCA commissioned Dr. Pierre Gallego to provide his abundant experience with captive cetaceans in order to offer the dolphins the best possible care. Dr. Gallego visited the proposed location at Sahl Hasheesh along with a team from HEPCA; water samples were collected for laboratory analysis and some onsite measurements were conducted. The analysis confirmed that the lagoon might have been suitable. Ric O’Barry seconded this conclusion.

Dr. Gallego was given access to the dolphins and to their logbooks but he was unable to perform a full visual examination due to the high turbidity in the pool.

In order for him to provide proper diagnosis of their conditions, blood analysis was recommended to assess the risks to the dolphins themselves and humans. It was scheduled for the morning of Wednesday 29th. HEPCA insured that the required medical equipment had been made available and arrangements were made with a medical laboratory in order for them to calibrate their apparatus for cetaceans.

However, upon their arrival at the “owner’s” villa, the HEPCA team led by Dr. Gallego, were surprised to discover that the entrance to the villa was blocked off by hired thugs, who only allowed Dr. Gallego onto the premises, leaving him without an assistant. The “owner’s” staff was unable to get the dolphins out of the water for the examination and blood sampling, further proving the unacceptable conditions the dolphins have to withstand.

The remainder of the sampling team, which is made up of two marine biologists working on HEPCA’s cetacean research project, were surrounded in the car they were in by some of the thugs, who even attempted to enter the vehicle: the team was harassed and threatened with violence!

A second HEPCA team along with Ric O’Barry attempted to inspect a pool that the “owner” is constructing and stated he would have the dolphins moved in. The team was also treated with aggression and threatened with a bulldozer that began dumping sand a few meters upwind of the team and the truck in order to stop them from being able to see the pool. The team headed to the villa to show Ric O’Barry the location that the dolphins were being held at. They were also harassed by the hired thugs in the street: they tried to steal and destroy the camera the team had, and they opened the vehicle door and attempted to unleash a guard dog into it. HEPCA has begun taking legal actions against the “owner” and his hired thugs for their attack on HEPCA staff and on the HEPCA vehicles and equipment which are considered to be public property.

The new location that the “owner” is preparing was properly inspected on the 30th of September, by Dr. Gallego, HEPCA’s chief scientist Dr. Mahmoud Hanafy, and a governmental committee composed of representatives from the City Council’s Environmental Office, the Governorate’s Environmental Department, the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency, and the Red Sea Rangers. They concluded that the new location is up to the required standards. The “owner’s” representatives pledged that the dolphins would be moved by Sunday.

Although we are all ecstatic that the dolphins shall be relieved from the strenuous conditions they have been suffering under for the last six weeks, the construction of a pool of this size and specifications means the establishment of a dolphinarium in the Red Sea Governorate. The permanent presence of captive dolphins is an issue that HEPCA and all those who have battled for the preservation of the natural environment have fought against for decades, and would be a massive step back in Egyptian conservation efforts.

We therefore call upon the Red Sea community, the Chambers of Diving and Tourism, hotels, diving centres, tour operators and tourists to condemn the dolphinarium industry and boycott all dolphinaria, here in the Red Sea and across the globe.

We invite to join us on Sunday evening at 7:30pm at the New Marina where Ric O’Barry will present his Oscar Award winning documentary: The Cove.[/QUOTE]

 

[Georgina]

The dolphins have been moved to a new location near Senzo Mall. The latest updates are on their Facebook page
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