Protecting coastal waters remains a national priority, says Egypt’s acting Environment Minister

Egypt is continuing the implementation of monitoring and follow-up programmes for coastal water quality across its shores to assess the environmental status of the water, the Ministry of Environment said on Saturday. The initiative, directed by Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development and Acting Minister of Environment, aims to monitor changes resulting from various activities along the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea, the Gulfs of Suez and Aqaba, and the national lakes.

Awad stated that the protection of Egyptian coasts is a national priority intended to preserve the marine environment and ensure the sustainability of natural resources for future generations. She explained that these monitoring programmes represent a fundamental pillar for the integrated management of coastal areas, seeking to achieve a balance between development requirements and environmental protection.

The periodic monitoring of coastal water quality is conducted in cooperation with the Institute of Graduate Studies and Research at Alexandria University and the National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries. These collaborative efforts, which involve specialists from the ministry, have been ongoing since 1998 to maintain continuous follow-up on water conditions and to build an accurate database regarding the quality of Egypt’s coastal waters and lakes.

According to Awad, the programmes involve periodic measurements and analyses of physical, chemical, and biological water quality indicators.