Egyptian aquaculture plays an important role in food security and employment. It provides nearly 65% of the country's fish consumption and over 100,000 jobs. However, greater efficiency and support are needed to maximize benefits. Improving management practices, quality standards, policies, and industry organization could increase production by 10%, creating 10,000 more jobs. Targeted support for women fish traders and pro-poor aquaculture initiatives could also help secure livelihoods.

1. ISSUES
OPTIMIZING BENEFITS FROM THE EGYPTIAN FARMED FISH VALUE CHAIN
A value chain approach is helping research
and development partners overcome barriers
to sustainable growth.
Egyptian aquaculture is booming, yet greater fish
quality and effective industry support are still
needed.
Egyptians need secure employment and
affordable food supplies to thrive and prosper.
ACTIONS
NEEDED
Egyptian Nile tilapia has a history of cultivation
stretching back 4,000 years to the time of the Pharaohs.
Domestic aquaculture provides almost 65% of Egypt’s
total fish consumption and is its lowest cost animal
protein source.
Increases in Egyptian aquaculture production place it
as one of the top10 aquaculture producers in the world.
Over 100,000 people (around 50% youth) are
employed in Egyptian aquaculture and related
activities.
More jobs can be created through intensification of
production on existing fish farms and developing
added value processing.
Aquaculture production has reached almost 1 million
tonnes annually, yet underexploited markets and
opportunities to replace imports remain.
Value chain efficiency can be achieved by improving
fish quality, management practices, standards, policy
environment and industry organization.
Increasing aquaculture production by 10% will lead
to 10,000 additional jobs in areas with few alternative
employment opportunities.
Support for women fish traders and development
of pro-poor aquaculture will help to secure livelihoods
for vulnerable households.
Aquaculture will play an even more important strategic
role, providing domestically produced, affordable a
nutritious food for all.
THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF EGYPTIAN AQUACULTURE OPPORTUNITIES IMPACT
Best management practice
training for fish farmers and others
involved in the aquaculture value
chain.
Develop improved policy
environment that recognizes the
importance of aquaculture as a
strategic food production sector.
Improve quality standards to enable
greater market access and additional
opportunities for added value
processing.
Identify and exploit opportunities
for poor people to benefit from
growth of this dynamic sector.
www.worldfishcenter.org
Poster: 2013-25
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