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Al-Ahram Weekly 28 Jan. - 3 Feb. 1999 Issue No. 414 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 28 Jan. - 3 Feb. 1999 Issue No. 414
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Focus Economy Opinion Culture Features Living Travel Sports People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters More fish to fry
Reem Leila
The General Authority for Fish Resources Development (GAFRD) has devised a long-term plan to increase fish production, to meet rising demand.Statistics issued by the Ministry of Agriculture indicate that from 1982 to 1986, the gap between production and consumption increased from 83,000 tons to 205,000 tons. Fish currently accounts for 20 per cent of the country's animal protein consumption, at around half a kilo per year per person.
Production remains low despite the potential offered by 11 million feddans of fish breeding grounds off the Mediterranean and Red Sea, lakes, the River Nile, canals and fish farms. Primitive fishing methods have kept the production rates low and prices high.
The first phase of the plan, which started in 1986, aims to boost fish production from 257,000 to 750,000 kilos by 2000, and 1,397,000 kilos by 2017. The scheme has proved its success, as the 1998 production rate has reached 453,000 kilos.
Since the initiative was launched, measures have been taken to control illegal fishing, counter the drying up of lakes and promote the periodic clearing of weeds. New fisheries have also been established and fishing has intensified in territorial waters. GAFRD, in cooperation with the National Institute for Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF), are researching potential new areas for fishing.
"We are hoping to increase each individual's share of fish to 10.3 kilos in 2000, then to 14.25 kilos by the end of 2017," said Abdullah Hammad, head of GAFRD. He added that GAFRD is also importing "a balanced fodder to allow better fish growth." The fodder is imported as it contains developed elements which are not available in Egypt. GAFRD has set up training courses focusing on fishery development. It is also encouraging intensive fish farming in rice fields to expand the production of certain types of fish, such as the Bolti and El-Mabrouk, which are cheap for the consumer to buy.
According to Ikram Mohamed, head of NIOF, lobbying by the institute resulted in a law banning fishing in April and May. "The law only came into effect last year, but it will promote production by allowing the mother fish to breed and the young fish to grow."
Furthermore, NIOF is negotiating with GAFRD to use its boats to carry out tests monitoring pollution levels in the Nile and in seas and lakes. Besides depleting fish supplies, high pollution rates are threatening certain species of fish with extinction, such as the Bolti. Two decades ago, there were 123 species of Bolti in Egypt; today there are only 63.
NIOF is currently lobbying for measures to be taken against pollution created by floating hotels and sewage dumped in the Mediterranean and the Nile.
The institute also offers funding to people looking to set up fisheries, which has resulted in a notable improvement in production rates. Fisheries in Damietta and El-Fayoum have been particularly successful, with 338 fisheries in Damietta producing almost 80 per cent of the Nile's fish.
"The fisheries have been a great success and there are regular inspections from the NIOF to ensure that the water is not being polluted," said Saad El-Ta'effi, owner of a fishery.
Strict control has also been imposed over Al-Fayoum's 85 fisheries, with river police prohibiting fishermen from fishing the fingerlings. These fisheries were constructed over 2,500 feddans, with each feddan producing more than 70 tons a year.
