On 1 July 2009 members of ‘Clean Sharm’ – a new community initiative addressing garbage in the wider Sharm el Sheikh area – gathered to participate in an underwater cleanup organised by the Ras Mohammed National Park body. With boats supplied by the Sea Queen Fleet, Simon and Paul from Blue Eye FX Productions jumped aboard to capture the environmental initiative.

With large bags and scissors ready to take on the rubbish, the volunteers covered a one-kilometre area from Jackfish Alley to Eel Garden within the Ras Mohammed National Park.

The majority of the collected rubbish consisted of fishing line, but other items including rope, anchors, bricks, tin containers and glass bottles were also gathered.

Dr Mohammed Salem, the director of the National Park South Sinai Protectorates office said: “It was a great start. It will raise awareness – we plan to send to fishing authorities pictures and documentation to show the impact of illegal fishing in Ras Mohammed and the rest of the South Sinai region.

Ras Mohammed is one of the most important coral reef areas for spawning of many species. Spawning depends on the health of the reef, as there is a relationship between feeding habitats and spawning events.

Check out the video in YouTube