Shark kills French diver in Marsa Alam

[InTheDrink]

The French woman had been on a diving safari holiday on board the boat Lanotel when the incident took place...

Initial investigations revealed last week that two safari boats had been involved in feeding sharks in this area. Investigations by both the National Park and CDWS are already underway and if the allegations are found to be true, the boat operators will face severe penalties that may involve suspension from operating and heavy fines...

Do we know what operation the Lanotel is from? I'm diving out of Marsa Alam next week so keen to find out whether any boats/operations likely to be suspended.

Condolences to the victim's family/friends. Been a bad week for the French.

 

[samaka]

Thanks for the update.
Shark feeding is forbidden in Egypt, that's a fact.
Another fact is that during years and years, the diving boat's crew were feeding the longimanus. I've seen myself these guys throwing chickens or bins out into the sea trying to attract the sharks, I saw it in 2 places : the Brothers Islands and Elfinstone, it was 5 years ago.
Would you say that they don't do it anymore, I mean that the 2 boats you're talking about are exceptions ?

Well there are a few things to consider here. Organic waste such as leftovers from meals is allowed to dump at sea for the obvious reason that if you would keep it aboard during a week long safari in the Egyptian heat the guests would probably go swimming back to shore... There is just no way to store that stuff for that long time. However, that's supposed to be done while sailing and not when moored up, especially not at places where you have Longimanus circling the boats.

I'm sure that it still happens that crew chuck bits and pieces in now and then but to be fair, all dive operators with some self respect train their crew in these matters. On the boats I've been working the crew has been the first ones to react if there has been shark feeding going on from other boats.

I think the main problem is when there's a new guide on the boat who either doesn't know or doesn't care. Or even worse; the guides who knows but want's to play macho.

.......a.......

 

[The Yellow Elf]

Do not jump to conclusions. Nowhere is stated that she was feeding the Longimanus herself so a direct link with the accident seems pure speculation.

5 months ago I was diving with the Oceanic whitetips at Elphinstone/Marsa Shagra.
Someone in our group unfortunately got bitten in both hands by a female, when pushing the longimanus away.
Getting bitten after pushing the shark on the snout makes sense doesn't it.
Or was there a relationship with the fact that people from a liveaboard had been throwing food in the water that morning?
Just like with human beings, we do nut fully understand shark behaviour, let alone the changes in behaviour because of human-shark interaction.

Let's hope that this extremely rare and tragic incident does not result in a large scale shark killing spree. Something that happens often by frustrated bystanders or (some) locals who are afraid of diminishing tourist dollars. No live without a healthy see, No healthy see without sharks.

 

[The Yellow Elf]

seA that is...

 

[diver 85]

seA that is...

that's what the bottom right "EDIT" word is for--------try it, you'll like it......

 

[Splujer29]

Here is a message on the french forum PLONGEUR.COM Forums plongñÆ Plongeur.com, la passion de la plongee sous-marine :
Forums plongñÆ Plongeur.com - Afficher un message - touriste franíÂise dñÄñÅñÆ suite une attaque de requin

ci dessous un message du Nautile.

Bonjour toutes et tous,
Suite aux informations que vous avez pu lire ou entendre concernant lÃÂccident dÃÖne touriste franíÂise en mer Rouge, nous vous informons que cette plongeuse faisait partie dÃÖn groupe de plongeurs franíÂis bord du nautile cette semaine.

Nous faisions une croisiïÓe St JohnÃÔ et lÃÂccident est survenu hors plongñÆ, lors dÃÖne activit palmes, masque et tuba.

Contrairement aux informations donnñÆs par les mñÅias, il nÃÚ a pas eu dÃÆxcitation ou de nourrissage du requin par les nageurs.

Nous vous remercions pour tous vos messages qui nous touchent.

A bient?

 

[samaka]

Do not jump to conclusions. Nowhere is stated that she was feeding the Longimanus herself so a direct link with the accident seems pure speculation.

You don't have to worry about me jumping to conclusions or speculate mate. I'm trying to straight the question marks out. No one said she was feeding the sharks but that doesn't mean that shark feeding is not a part of the problem and part of the reason it happened. But to snorkel with Longimanus is never risk-free.

5 months ago I was diving with the Oceanic whitetips at Elphinstone/Marsa Shagra.
Someone in our group unfortunately got bitten in both hands by a female, when pushing the longimanus away.
Getting bitten after pushing the shark on the snout makes sense doesn't it.

Not necessarily, a gentle push on the snout is normally a rather effective and low-risk way to make a too inquisitive Longimanus go away. You shouldn't stick your fingers into its mouth though.

Or was there a relationship with the fact that people from a liveaboard had been throwing food in the water that morning?

Yes

Just like with human beings, we do nut fully understand shark behaviour, let alone the changes in behaviour because of human-shark interaction.

Exactly mate. This is the thing. The shark does not know what we are. We've been intruding in their home only for half a century while the shark has evolved for millions of years to become what it is today.

Let's hope that this extremely rare and tragic incident does not result in a large scale shark killing spree. Something that happens often by frustrated bystanders or (some) locals who are afraid of diminishing tourist dollars. No live without a healthy see, No healthy see without sharks.

Strangely enough, yesterday the long lobbying by Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conversation Association (HEPCA) resulted in the Egyptian government signing a new law making the Egyptian Red Sea a fishing free zone. There has been a problem fighting shark fishing (which has been illegal in Egypt for some time now) because there has been legal fishing for other species going on. Now when no fishing boats are allowed anymore it's obviously more difficult to fish for sharks disguised as legal fishermen. All trade with shark products is forbidden in Egypt and they are pretty serious about it. I, like you hope this does not result in a large scale shark killing spree. I also think it's unlikely.

.......a.......

 

[vladimir]

In short, theres a huge decline in numbers of sharks .. ( personally I blame the japaneese for paying so well for the fins ! )

It's the Chinese that eat shark's fin soup.

 

[lemon]

I am pretty sure that nobody aside from a true documentarian or marine biologist needs to see a white, tiger, or mako up close. And no, the shutter bugs at wetpixel don't count as documentarians.

For everyone else, there is discovery channel.

Nobody NEEDS to see any fish in the sea on a recreational basis. We don't need to do a lot of things. However, if Joe Blow wants to dive with tigers, whites, or what have you, it's OK by me. As long as they're not hurting the sharks and they know the risks, well, have at it. Who am I to say what someone can and cannot do (within reason, of course).

On the other hand, I do see the arguments against feeding sharks, however, while I personally would rather see a shark in its natural non-hand-fed state, I can't say i'm opposed to shark feeds per se.... I am open to convincing though!

 

[lemon]

It's the Chinese that eat shark's fin soup.

I believe the japanese do as well.