Fishermen Arrested for Capturing Rare Whale Shark in Egypt
The arrests followed an investigation by coastal protection and nature conservation officers.
Egyptian authorities have arrested a group of fishermen after videos circulated on social media showing the capture and handling of a rare whale shark in Egyptian waters.
The Ministry of Environment said the incident was reviewed by specialised teams after the footage prompted widespread public reaction. Acting Minister of Environment Manal Awad said officers from the ministry’s coastal protection and nature conservation sector carried out the arrests following an investigation into the incident.
She added that the fishermen will be referred for legal proceedings once their individual roles are fully verified, noting that the measures fall within the ministry’s mandate to protect biodiversity and threatened marine species.
The response was directly linked to the documented violation and forms part of broader enforcement efforts aimed at safeguarding marine life along Egypt’s coasts. Whale sharks are classified as a rare and protected species, and harming them is prohibited under environmental regulations.
- The ministry urged members of the public to report any practices that threaten endangered marine species, including through WhatsApp, to support monitoring and enforcement efforts. It said public reporting plays a key role in identifying violations and strengthening the sustainable management of natural resources.
