- The National Conservation Sector of the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (NCS/EEAA) desired to declare the Gulf of Sallum one of the proposed protectorates for the Egyptian national system plan of protected areas.
- In this context, the International Union for Conserving Nature (IUCN) undertook several studies regarding marine biodiversity and socioeconomic issues in the Gulf of Sallum. Findings of these studies revealed the Gulf’s potentiality for conservation and establishing a marine protected area.
- According to the law of natural protectorates (102/1993), the EEAA has to present the case to the Prime Minister, who would issue a prime ministerial decree.
- The IUCN Contracted Environics to provide technical consultancy on the declaration process.
- Main Activities and Outputs:
- Review of related literature, particularly on:
- International and national legislation;
- Biodiversity of the Gulf of Sallum;
- Socioeconomic assessment of the area;
- Egyptian Network of PA;
- Values, Management, & Planning of MPA;
- Mediterranean deep sea environment;
- Egyptian territorial waters & related decrees.
- Landuse information, as confirmed by official entities, including Omayed PA.
- Continuous consultation with NCS/EEAA officials.
- Personal communication with involved environmental experts.
- GIS Mapping.
- Proposing a Management plan and budget estimation.
- Developing a formal technical and legal document requesting the declaration of the Gulf of Sallum a marine protected area.
- The document was submitted to the Egyptian Prime Minister in order to issue a relevant decree for designation.
- In February 2010, the Prime Minister issued the decree (533/2010) designating the Gulf of Sallum a protected area.
- Review of related literature, particularly on:
