CAIRO — The Egyptian Ministry of Environment is preparing to launch the National Plan for the Protection of Turtles in mid-summer, according to Mohammed Issawi, the director of the reserves in the northern coastal area at the ministry.

Issawi told Al-Monitor that the plan involves several mechanisms, most importantly the formation of a task force for rapid intervention along the coasts to monitor fishermen and fishmongers and ban the trade of endangered species, namely sea turtles, and to release the captured ones in the closest natural habitat.

“The plan also includes awareness campaigns for beachgoers and distribution of leaflets on how to handle turtle nests and eggs and how to conserve them,” Issawi said.

The Alexandria Turtles Rescue Team (ATRT) in Egypt has been trying since its establishment in 2014 to track down and follow fishermen and fishmongers who sell sea turtles’ meat and blood. The rescue team buys the turtles before the fishermen slaughter and sell them, which is a weekly occurrence in the Alexandria market, especially at al-Maydan market.