The aquaculture sector in Egypt di Gianluigi Negroni
Egyptian aquaculture, with an old tradition, has achieved very rapid developments in recent years showing a great development. As in many other country, aquaculture is considered the right path to supply the needed amount of high quality fish protein for the growing population. At national level, request of aquaculture products at an affordable price is increasing continuously. The production is boosted by an high demand and the development of all aquaculture value chain activities starting from seed and feed production and the technology support to the producers. New and modern feed mills and hatcheries provide the right inputs to the aquaculture industry. Egyptian aquaculture uses different aquaculture technologies
as cages, tanks, semi-intensive, intensive culture in ponds, lagoon and extensive production systems. During the last years, it is possible to see a fast and large development in the Egyptian aquaculture; it must consider the sustainability and environmental consequences of the aquatic animals farming activities. In Diagram 1 you can see that, after the years 2000, the fishery capture production remains more or less constant, meanwhile the aquaculture has a steady increase arriving at more than 1,8 million Ton in 2017 and the trend is following in the last years. It is possible to clearly see in Diagram 2 the impressive aquaculture development arriving at more than 1,6 million tonnes in 2019 and the stabilised fishery production. The
fork between fishery and aquaculture production has a clear increased trend. In fact the rapid development of aquaculture is related to the high fishery product level of consumption in Egypt. Table 1 can easily show the fishery consumption level in Egypt and the huge fishery product appetite of the Egyptian population. This table show the needs of fishery products in Egypt with import and a per caput (Kg) fish consumption level increase. The available fish Kg per caput is higher than the world average. It is possible to note a small import regression in import and export in 2018 well recovered in 2019. The undersigned forecast a similar trend in the future years, more fish will be requested by the Egyptian consumers.
Tilapia is the main farmed species in Egypt (photo © www.skretting.com).
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