Since August 2009, the Egyptian government has granted HEPCA sole responsibility for the management of waste collection and recycling in the southern Red Sea, an area roughly double the size of The Netherlands. Even in these first few months, the scheme has achieved some incredible results – proof that recycling really does make a difference and dramatically helps to reduce daily damage to the environment.

Our Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in Marsa Alam city is the hub of the HEPCA solid waste management strategy. Waste is collected and separated at source into organic and non-organic matter before being transported to the MRF. Here, the vast majority of the waste is non-organic and it is sorted, processed and traded through to recycling firms. We also manage and operate a controlled dumpsite for non-recyclables. Organic waste is given to the local community for animal feed.

Our latest figures show an outstanding success rate at the MRF in helping to reduce the Red Sea’s carbon footprint:

PAPER

Each month we recycle more than 8.5 tonnes of paper and cartons, saving:
- 145 trees
- 34 barrels of oil
- 25 cubic metres of landfill space
- 34,000kw hours of energy
- 59,500 gallons of water.

Simply put, the monthly HEPCA recycled paper total saves enough energy for heat, electricity and air-conditioning for the average Egyptian home for almost 30 months!

ALUMINIUM

Each month we recycle more than 41,500 cans, saving
- enough energy to run a television, or operate a computer for 14 years, or a computer centre with 20 computers for over one year.

GLASS

Each month we recycle at least 6000kg of glass, saving
- enough energy to power a computer for 296 days, a 100-watt light bulb for 5.93 years and saves the equivalent of 272 litres of oil.

PLASTIC

Each month we recycle almost 259,000 plastic bottles and parts saving
- enough energy to power a 60-watt light bulb for 89.9 years.

STEEL and TIN

Each month we recycle an average of 4.5 tonnes of steel and tin saving
- 24.9 tonnes of iron ore, 14 tonnes of coal, and 1.2 tonnes of limestone.

Greenhouse gas emissions result from the burning of municipality solid waste and are strongly influenced, in particular, by the plastic content of the input waste stream. Each month, the recycling and reuse of this waste by the HEPCA MRF saves around 65 tonnes of CO2 pollutants from entering the atmosphere of the Red Sea!

Our solid waste management strategy is not only concerned with saving the environment but also saving livelihoods. Many valuable employment opportunities have been created for the local community in waste collection, transportation and staffing at the MRF. Further employment and income is also generated through the selling on of recyclable material. We estimate an additional 70 jobs will be created annually in support of this program.

HEPCA would like to thank everyone who has been involved in the solid waste management strategy and in particular the MRF in Marsa Alam. This scheme is a tremendous achievement in helping to keep the Red Sea clean and addressing climate change in Egypt. We look forward to announcing developments elsewhere in the Red Sea soon.

HEPCA divers have completed a pioneering mooring project in Aqaba, Jordan. Leading marine conservation organization, The Regional Organization for the Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden (PERSGA), commissioned HEPCA, in cooperation with the Marine Parks Authority of Aqaba, to install a mooring system that covers more than 26 dive spots. The project also encompasses a zoning system for swimmers and watercraft.

HEPCA is extremely proud to have been chosen by PERSGA as the implementing partner for this significant project, which aims to spread a best practice mooring culture throughout the entire Red Sea region.

PERSGA is an intergovernmental body dedicated to the conservation of the coastal and marine environments found in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aqaba, Gulf of Suez, Suez Canal, and Gulf of Aden. PERSGA’s member states include: Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.

We would like to thank PERSGA for initiating this project and for their ongoing support. Special thanks are also due to the Aqaba authorities and the local diving operators in the Aqaba region for their part in ensuring the success of this project.

HEPCA looks forward to continuing to contribute to this positive technology transfer amongst neighbouring countries and communities in support of the growing environmental consciousness throughout our region.

It is with great sadness that HEPCA releases this statement concerning the loss of Abd El Megeed El Cherif, popularly known as Guido, one of the true pioneers of Red Sea diving and one of our industry’s most beloved faces.

Guido was a very special man, an unbelievable character who brought joy to every situation he encountered, and every room he entered. A businessman, Guido was a dedicated diving enthusiast and instructor, who ultimately left his everyday work behind to embrace his overwhelming passion for the sea.

Guido Cherif was the founder and original owner of the famous liveaboard M.Y. Coral Queen, a boat almost as legendary as the man himself.

M.Y. Coral Queen stood out in its class, a beautifully designed 24m motor cruiser, built in 1996, that was especially popular with British divers until her sad demise at Sha’ab Sataya in 2005. With the Coral Queen, Guido established a real landmark liveaboard in the Red Sea, with a unique atmosphere.

M.Y. Coral Queen was not notable for its size or luxury compared to the ’skyscraper boats’ that exist now, but through this boat Guido showed to the entire industry the true warmth of Egyptian hospitality.

Guido was committed to giving back to his local community and over the years many of the crew came from local tribes for training onboard. The fact that this relatively small and unassuming boat won ‘best liveboard in the world’ twice is testament to the very special kind of diving that Guido introduced to his guests.

So many people spoke highly of Guido, a real ‘Last of the Mohicans’ for the diving industry in the Red Sea.

Hossam Helmy, fellow diving pioneer in the Southern Red Sea, and owner of Red Sea Diving Safari had this to say yesterday about his close friend Guido:

“He was a real friend, a true gentleman and a genuine person. He helped me a lot and introduced me to diving at Fury Shoals, and perhaps even introduced this area as we know it now to the whole world. We spent together there many months diving and exploring sites, and he helped me personally with setting up our speedboat fleet that serves all the Red Sea Diving Safari bases throughout the South. God bless him. We will miss him.”

Our condolences and the heartfelt sympathies of the HEPCA team rest with the family and friends of Guido.

BleachWatch Egypt seeks volunteers for reef monitoring program

What is BleachWatch Egypt?

BleachWatch Egypt is a community based coral reef monitoring program that acts as an early warning system for potential coral bleaching events. Trained volunteers report back on the health of their local reefs and the information is used to track bleaching events and other environmental damage.

BleachWatch Egypt is part of the Climate Change and Coral Reefs Project – a unique partnership between HEPCA, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and leading travel and tour operator Kuoni Travel Ltd.

What’s the point? Coral reef bleaching is irreversible – right?

Wrong! Well… bleaching is technically reversible but corals can potentially suffer mass mortality following bleaching events.

You see… corals live in symbiosis with a single celled algae called zooxanthellae. Bleaching is a natural response to environmental stress (most often unusually high water temperature as a direct result of climate change). The coral polyps expel their colourful zooxanthellae and as a result lose their colour and turn transparent and what can be seen is the white calcium carbonate skeleton of the animal. When corals are stressed and expel their zooxanthellae they can lose more than 90% of their food supply. If the zooxanthellae are not regained the coral will starve and die.

Even though coral bleaching events may be caused by increases in temperature and UV radiation that are difficult to control locally, other manmade threats increase the probability that corals bleach and die. Such threats include pollution, freshwater runoff, sedimentation and disease. By monitoring coral reefs we can try to better understand the patterns of coral bleaching, help find out what makes some corals survive, and minimise, where possible, local threats that exacerbate the situation.

Where is the monitoring program happening?

BleachWatch Egypt is being launched this month at the Red Sea Diving Safari in Marsa Shagra, and will be introduced soon after to El Quesir, Lahami, St Johns and Wadi El Gimal.

A team of volunteers recently received BleachWatch training as part of Climate Change workshops in Hurghada and Marsa Alam, but we need more volunteers! We aim to cover all of the Egyptian Red Sea and so all diving operations and resorts that are interested should contact us.

Who can volunteer?

Everyone! That is everyone who regularly visits our coral reefs and is in a position to receive a short informal training and fill in an occasional simple report. The training will give you insight into marine and coral ecology and will be an invaluable way to contribute and support the health of your favourite dive sites.

We welcome applications from individuals who are divers, snorkelers or regular water users, as well as dive centres and other organisations who are interested in passing on their knowledge of the program. BleachWatch makes a great interactive educational tool for diving and snorkelling guests.

Great! How do I get involved?

Simple. Just send an email to bleachwatch@hepca.com to register your interest and we’ll get in touch with you soon with more information and to arrange your training.

You can also find out more about Bleachwatch and the Climate Change and Coral Reefs project at www.hepca.com/projects and www.iucn.org/marine

Visit Hepca on Facebook, facebook.com/hepca

HEPCA, Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association, announced today that the Red Sea is now officially a TBT-free zone.

Following a decree from H.E. Eng. Magdy El Qubaisy, Governor of the Red Sea, it is now prohibited to sell or use any kind of paint materials containing the chemical compound Tributyltin (TBT).

This chemical has been commonly used in anti-fouling paints that protect ship’s hulls from unwanted marine growths. However, it has been strongly linked to damage and death of marine life, as well causing harmful effects to the environment and wider public health. This decree follows similar legislation throughout the world.

Please ensure that you now purchase TBT-free paints only. This decree also enforces the marking of all such paint containers with the TBT-free sign.

RESOURCES:
HEPCA website
HEPCA fans page on facebook