By Obiabin Onukwugha
Egypt has declared the protection of its coastal waters as its national priority.
The country’s acting Minister of Environment, Manual Awad, said, therefore, continuing the implementation of monitoring and follow-up programmes for coastal water quality across its shores to assess the environmental status of the water.
Awad, who is also the country’s Minister of Local Development, said at the weekend that the initiative aims to monitor changes resulting from various activities along the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea, the Gulfs of Suez and Aqaba, and as well, 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, according to Awad, 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.
Dailynewsegypt reported that these assessments include the study of salinity, dissolved oxygen levels, nutrients, and potential pollutants, which facilitates the early detection of any pollution sources and allows for corrective measures to be taken in a timely manner.
The ministry added that the monitoring programmes rely on the latest scientific methods and modern technologies for sample collection and data analysis.
By providing decision-makers with accurate and reliable information, the ministry aims to support the protection of coastal ecosystems and the preservation of marine biodiversity.
