The Alexandria Governorate released a statement in reaction to online reports that a fisherman from the El-Max neighbourhood had caught and released several small sharks into the open sea.
According to the Institute of Marine Sciences and Fisheries in Alexandria, the picture that went viral with one of the fisherman is really of a freshly born juvenile shark of the “Isurus oxyrinchus short-finned mako” species, which poses no threat to the area.
In response to rumours that small sharks inhabit the El-Max area, experts from the Institute of Alexandria debunked the rumours, noting that the area’s waters are considered mixed seas and that the existence of the area pumps also hinders sharks admission.
The young shark was caught more than three kilometres off shore, in a region parallel to the El-Max area, according to the experts.
There is no need to create panic and confusion by publishing and circulating information and pictures carrying misleading news, as experts have stressed that this species does not live in the area, but rather in deep waters, and that its presence during this period is natural because it is the mating season for sharks, whether in the Red Sea or the Mediterranean Sea.
According to the experts, some inhabitants of El-Max are interested in purchasing shark-like fish from local markets due to their low price. They stated, “This is not a new event and has been happening for decades in this region.”