Hayah - The red sea community project

Hayah, meaning ‘Life’ in Arabic, is HEPCA’s most ambitious environmental project yet. The project was launched on Earth Day, April 22nd 2008; the largest annual environmental event that is celebrated simultaneously around the globe by more than half a billion people.

The aim of Hayah is to involve all sections of the Red Sea community working towards the following objectives:

1. Raising awareness

Raising environmental awareness of multiple stakeholders in our Red Sea community (e.g. diving and water sport operators, hotels, schools, tourists, tour operators / travel agents and local communities / organisations).

2. Education and responsibility

Educating all stakeholders in the importance of individual and collective responsibility for our environment and providing ideas, methods and support for each and every one of us to make a difference.

3. Active participation

Encouraging all stakeholders in environmental citizenship and assisting them in positive actions to help ensure the overall sustainability of our Red Sea environment (on land and water).

Hayah was launched on Earth Day with a series of educational and clean-up events. The project is not a one-off, one-day event however. A full program of environmental actions, ongoing projects, awareness materials and resources will be rolled out over the coming months. More information on this exciting community project will be released soon including a complete micro site dedicated to Hayah.

Read more

Tackling the Rubbish

We all know that the amount of rubbish in the Red Sea region is unsightly, unhealthy and unacceptable; but things are being done to help tackle the problem…

One such initiative is the Material Recovery Facility (MRF), now open in Marsa Alam. The Facility is part of HEPCA’s Solid Waste Management Strategy for the Red Sea, undertaken in cooperation with USAID, the EEAA, the National Parks of Egypt and the Association for the Protection of the Environment, and with private donations.

Separated waste items are collected at source and transported in our stunning new trucks to the Facility. Organic waste is passed on to the local community for animal feed. Non-organic waste is sorted, processed and traded through to recycling firms where possible, or otherwise placed into a managed dumpsite for non-recyclables.

Contracts with hotels, dive centres and other tourism establishments in the Marsa Alam region are currently being concluded. The Solid Waste Management Strategy not only focuses on the collection and recycling of waste, but also provides valuable employment opportunities to the local community. A second MRF is due to open in the Hurghada area later this year.

HEPCA would like to thank Emperor Fleet ...

EPCA would like to thank Emperor Fleet for its swift, serious and professional actions on receiving notice of their nomination as Violator of the Month. HEPCA is pleased to be working closely with Emperor to ensure that the alleged violations are not repeated and that all staff are reminded of the importance of awareness of environmental issues and regulations. Furthermore HEPCA and Emperor have discussed ways of improving communications.

The management of Emperor Fleet initiated a meeting with Amr Ali, Managing Director of HEPCA, on 19th February 2008. They stressed the commitment of Emperor to environmental protection and the need to deal severely with any staff who contravene local regulations. A consultative meeting took place the following day between HEPCA and the captains of the Emperor Fleet. HEPCA would like to thank the staff, captains and crew of the Emperor Fleet for their many beneficial suggestions offered during this meeting.

Finally, HEPCA is delighted to announce that all Emperor Fleet captains will join the HEPCA Volunteer Red Sea Ranger Initiative. Under this new scheme, dive centres or organisations nominate a person or persons responsible for noting and reporting any environmental violations, and liaising with HEPCA.

HEPCA look forward to continued working with Emperor and all diving operators to safeguard the Red Sea and ensure its sustainability for the future.

Defenders of the Red Sea 2007 – Red Sea Diving College

The management and staff at the Red Sea Diving College were thrilled to receive the honour Defenders of the Sea 2007 as awarded by HEPCA (the Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association).

Amr Ali, Managing Director of HEPCA recently explained, at a press conference in Sharm, that the award had been given in recognition of the important environmental work carried out throughout 2007 by staff at the College.

HEPCA is a leading NGO - Non Governmental Organisation – working in the field of marine and land conservation. Founded in 1992 by 12 members representing the diving community of the Red Sea, HEPCA is actively working towards the goal of protecting and preserving the natural resources of the Red Sea and Egypt.

Amr presented the award to Alain Sobol, CEO of the College at a ceremony at the dive centre in Naama Bay.

Red Sea Diving College projects in 2007 included:
• An attempt to rehabilitate an injured hawksbill turtle in conjunction with staff at the Ras Mohammed National Park.
• Building an artificial reef in Naama Bay and developing the “Adopt a Pot” scheme whereby all the proceeds go to the Ras Mohammed National Park fund for future projects. The artificial reef has started to take pressure of the nearby natural reef.
• An on-going Naama Bay jetty clean-up programme and regular participation in all Project Aware clean-up days.

A College spokesman explained to us that “we are very proud in receiving this award and it is testimony to the hard work, dedication and commitment of all the staff at Red Sea Diving College”.

The environmental work of the dive centre will continue throughout 2008. There are plans to launch some environmental initiatives within the Russian diving community and there are also plans being developed to begin a coral re-grafting project - under the direction of Dr Mohammed Salem, Chief Marine Biologist from the Ras Mohammed National Park.
There are also plans to link up with the Project Aware Coral Watch scheme. In Taba Heights, Red Sea Waterworld - a sister company of Red Sea Diving College - will continue its work with HEPCA in renewing the fixed moorings that prevent damage to coral.
Amr Ali from HEPCA explained that he hoped to see more dive centres active in the kind of work that the College has been carrying out.

www.hepca.com
www.projectaware.org
www.redseacollege.com
www.redseawaterworld.com

HEPCA: Emperor Divers is our Nominee for the "Violator of the Month"

Emperor Divers have long been one of the biggest supporters of HEPCA, not to mention one of HEPCA's founding members, and recognized worldwide as setting the standards of best practice in matters of environmental awareness.

The nomination of Emperor Divers for HEPCA‚s Violator of the Month is therefore not an easy one. HEPCA has been shocked to receive at least 10 reports over the last two months of major violations committed by boats and staff of the Emperor Fleet. These violations include anchoring and littering within National Park boundaries, failure to observe the new regulations regarding visits to the wreck of the SS Thistlegorm (currently undergoing much-needed conservation work) and finally disregarding the new mooring system in place at the wreck.

Despite Emperor Divers' illustrious history and well-known commitment as a company to environmental issues, these violations show that no company, no matter how large or well regarded, is immune to those lacking respect for their environment.

Furthermore, the dismissive attitude of some Emperor Divers staff members is both unjustifiable and destructive. We expect the wise leadership of Emperor Divers to take all necessary measures to ensure that these violations will never again be repeated. Violator of the Month is an initiative taken by HEPCA on regular basis along other legal violation procedures.