Cairo: Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad announced the successful completion of Egypt's first mission to install satellite tracking devices on sharks in the Red Sea.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the mission involved a team of Egyptian specialists from the Environment Ministry, the Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association (HEPCA), and the Chamber of Diving and Marine Activities. In collaboration with a French expert, they installed nine tracking devices on tiger and oceanic white-tip sharks in Marsa Alam, the Brothers Islands, and Safaga.

The minister stated that the team also collected 14 genetic samples and dorsal fin images to support shark identification. Fouad highlighted that Egypt is among the first countries in the Red Sea region to monitor apex shark species, which play a crucial role in the marine food chain.

These efforts are aimed at studying shark movement and enhancing conservation, with an acknowledgment of the significant ecotourism value sharks provide. The minister confirmed that the tagged sharks were safely returned to the sea, and the tracking devices are expected to transmit detailed data for one year.

The diving team expressed appreciation for the cooperation with local diving centers, which temporarily paused activities to allow the mission to proceed smoothly.