This year started with a big bang: several hotels were reported to serve endangered species on their seafood buffets including sharks and napoleon fish.

Besides the “Pick Albatros” hotel chain, who claimed that their displayed marine life was just

plastic, an excuse that nobody really believed, we also received photos from “Sunrise Royal Makadi Resort” showing napoleon fish as well as a baby shark on their New Year’s buffet. Until now we are waiting for a statement from the hotel management.

In 2006 the Fisheries Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries issued a decree which included the ban of serving shark meat in restaurants. The decree was a response to a series of negotiations and lobbying activities by HEPCA and its partners. It is frustrating to see that now, 6 years later, some hotels still seem to put their greed for money high above their environmental responsibility and therefore play a large role in the destruction of our marine resources.

HEPCA is asking all tourists visiting the Red Sea as well as residents living here, to keep their eyes open. Please, send us a report if you witness endangered species being served in restaurants; this is an illegal action and shall not be accepted!