Egyptian Cooperative Organizations As Institutions for Popular Participation And Fisheries Development
A paper submitted by The Cooperative Union for Aquatic Resources Arab Republic of Egypt
Prepared by Accountant / Awad Mohamed Marzouk Secretary General of the Union
Introduction
The importance of the role played by fishery cooperative organizations in Egypt—foremost among them the Cooperative Union for Aquatic Resources—and the responsibilities entrusted to the Union is clearly reflected in its contribution, in cooperation with governmental and research bodies, to the conservation of fishery resources, the defense of producers’ interests, and the development of fish production. This paper seeks to present and review this role
First: Establishment of the Union
The Specialized Cooperative Union for Aquatic Resources was registered under No. (21) of 1960. With the issuance of Law No. (123) of 1983 concerning Aquatic Resources Cooperatives, its name was amended to become the Cooperative Union for Aquatic Resources in 1985.
Second: Functions of the Union
The Cooperative Union for Aquatic Resources undertakes the following activities:
Participation in planning the cooperative movement for aquatic resources in Egypt.
Promotion of the cooperative movement for aquatic resources, raising awareness of it, supporting and developing it, including the issuance of newspapers and magazines and the organization of cooperative seminars.
Coordination among cooperative societies in matters related to achieving their objectives.
Supervision of cooperative training programs for aquatic resources cooperative societies.
Participation in coordination between the cooperative sector for aquatic resources and other cooperative sectors, and strengthening links among them.
Representation of the cooperative movement for aquatic resources abroad through membership in international, regional, and Arab cooperative organizations; participation in international conferences; exchange of cooperative expertise with various international organizations; and acceptance of financial assistance from foreign cooperative organizations—all in coordination with the Minister of Agriculture.
Proposing cooperative legislation related to aquatic resources.
Defense of the interests of aquatic resources cooperative societies and the units of the cooperative structure.
Third: The Cooperative Structure of Aquatic Resources
The Cooperative Union includes in its membership (90) cooperative societies, comprising (84) local societies, one general society, and (5) aquaculture cooperative societies. The total number of cooperative members is estimated at (89,713) members, with a total capital amounting to (1,150,549 Egyptian pounds).
Members of the cooperative societies own all fishing units operating in Egyptian fishing grounds (seas, lakes, and inland waters), including 4,229 motorized vessels, some of which have engine power exceeding (800) horsepower, and (40,836) sailing boats, mainly concentrated in lakes and inland waters.
With the expansion of aquaculture projects in recent years, the number of aquaculture cooperative societies has been increasing. The Union actively encourages their establishment, and they have come to be represented on the Union’s Board of Directors
The Union’s Contribution to Economic and Social Development
Rational management of fishery resources through preventing illegal and excessive fishing, within the framework of a realistic plan based on accurate data regarding fish stock levels, the number of fishing vessels, determination of fishing seasons, and respect for the recommendations and proposals submitted by the Union to the administrative authorities in this regard.
Protection of water bodies from reclamation and drying, whether for agricultural, urban, or tourism expansion, as has occurred in the northern lakes and the Red Sea. Once again, the same pressure groups intervene with the administrative authorities to achieve their own interests. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a permanent compensation mechanism for fishermen, funded by those who benefit from such practices.
Prevention or reduction of pollution in its various forms in water bodies, especially the northern lakes, where fishermen are the first victims—both in terms of reduced production and exposure to diseases. This necessitates compensating them based on the well-known principle: “the polluter pays.”
Insurance of fishing vessels, which represent the backbone of the cooperative sector and the primary means of production. The magnitude of investments in this area, as previously noted, requires protection and preservation—particularly given that fishing is a highly hazardous occupation, often resulting in the loss of vessels and crews. Accordingly, this issue represents one of the most important challenges and priorities of the Union, which led to the issuance of a Presidential Decree establishing a special fund for insuring fishing vessels.
Inclusion of workers in the fishery sector, owners of fishing vessels, and fish farms among the beneficiaries of the National Health Insurance Project.
Issuance of Al-Sayyad (The Fisherman) Newspaper, the first specialized newspaper addressing the problems and constraints of the aquatic resources sector. It includes scientific studies and serves as a communication link between cooperative societies on one side and relevant governmental and non-governmental bodies on the other. The newspaper is distributed to these bodies, as well as to universities and research centers, and has been widely welcomed—particularly by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture, the Minister of Environment, and others.
Establishment of a suitably equipped headquarters for the Union, including meeting halls and audio-visual facilities used for training purposes. The headquarters has hosted ministers and delegations from Arab fishery sectors visiting Egypt (Yemen, Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Sudanese delegations, the Arab Union of Fish Producers, and the Arab Cooperative Union).
Conducting continuous field visits to various fishing areas according to a structured plan aimed at raising awareness among cooperative societies and fishermen about the importance of development and conservation of fishery resources, as well as discussing the problems faced by societies and fishermen in those areas. As a result of these visits, the Union succeeded in achieving the following:
Confronting attempts to drain 6,000 feddans (the main basin) of Lake Mariout, following efforts by the Governor of Alexandria and the Local Council to issue a recommendation for drainage, which has not been implemented to date.
Halting the drainage of 7,000 feddans in the Al-Gahr area of Lake Manzala, which the Land Reclamation Authority had attempted to drain.
Preventing the leasing of the Shenyara area in Lake Nasser and restoring it to the jurisdiction of the Aswan Fishermen Cooperative Society.
Opposing the privatization of Lake Nasser and attempting to restore previous arrangements to ensure stability and productivity.
Reconciling conditions within Lake Nasser between cooperative societies and resolving disputes among them that had persisted for more than twelve years
Cooperation with Local and International Bodies
The Union is a member of the Board of Directors of the General Authority for Fish Resources Development, which enables it to participate in policy formulation and propose legislation related to the fisheries sector.
The Union has earned the respect of numerous scientific institutions specializing in fishery resources. Accordingly, for the first time, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research issued a decision appointing the President of the Union as a member of the Board of Directors of the National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries.
The Union has established close relations with the Regional Office of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Arab Union of Fish Producers, and the Regional Organization for the Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (PERSGA). This cooperation includes the provision of scientific publications and documents, as well as participation in conferences and seminars.
The Union holds the position of Vice President of the Regional Organization of Professional Fishermen, which was established by the European Union and includes all countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea.
The Union participated in the establishment of the Yemeni Cooperative Union for Fish Resources as well as the Algerian Fish Chamber of Commerce. It also trained (18) members of the Yemeni Union in 2003, and (30) members of the Algerian Chamber of Commerce were scheduled to receive training in October 2004. In addition, leaders of the Yemeni Cooperative Union were to receive training in cooperation with FAO.
The Union is a member of the Egyptian Society for the Development of Fish Resources and the Protection of Human Health, a recognized scientific association that conducts scientific research and organizes conferences and seminars related to the environment and fishery resources.
In cooperation with the Ministry of Maritime Transport and the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, the following achievements were realized:
Issuance of a decision by the Minister of Transport granting fishermen working on fishing vessels Seafarer Fishing Passports, enabling them to access employment opportunities outside Egyptian waters.
Preparation of a draft ministerial decree to grant international certificates to workers on fishing vessels operating outside territorial waters, across various professional specializations.
Conclusion of agreements with the Egyptian Tax Authority, under which accounting principles were established in accordance with each production area, taking into account differences in fishing ground productivity, quantity, quality, and seasonality of production. These agreements cover the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Suez, while studies concerning lakes and the Nile River are currently underway. All agreements were signed with the Head of the Tax Authority at the Union’s headquarters.
Attendance at all meetings of the Agriculture and Irrigation Committee of the People’s Assembly when discussing issues related to fishery resources or amendments to relevant legislation. The Union has maintained an influential role in these meetings due to its strong relations with various stakeholders in pursuit of the public interest.
Holding meetings with concerned governors to discuss issues related to pollution and the drying of water bodies
10. Training and Capacity Building
The Union organizes annual training courses for members of cooperative societies and workers in the fields of cooperative legislation, fisheries law, and cooperative accounting.
Reciprocal training programs are conducted between the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (Fisheries Department) and the Union. Students of the Academy receive practical training aboard fishing vessels owned by cooperatives, while selected members of cooperative societies are trained at the Academy on the use of modern navigation and maritime safety equipment.
A total of ten (10) students from the Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University (Fish Division) were trained through fishing trips aboard cooperative fishing vessels.
Coordination was carried out with the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport to train unqualified fishing labor at their workplaces, qualifying them to obtain international certificates enabling them to work aboard fishing vessels outside territorial waters in various specializations.
11. Local and International Conferences and Seminars
International Conferences and Seminars
Participation in the First Conference on the Development of Marine Fisheries in the Arab World, held in Tripoli, Libya, from 25–27 July 1998, organized by the Arab Union of Fish Producers. The Union presented a working paper at the conference. On the sidelines of the conference, communication with Libyan fisheries officials resulted in the release of five (5) detained fishing vessels.
Participation in the First Conference on the Development of Fishery Investment and Trade in the Arab World, held from 2–5 November 1998 in Nouakchott, Islamic Republic of Mauritania, organized by the Arab Union of Fish Producers and the Mauritanian Ministry of Fisheries and Maritime Economy. The Union presented a working paper. As a result, an agreement was reached to operate Egyptian fishing vessels in Mauritanian territorial waters on a pilot basis, leading to the actual operation of three (3) fishing vessels.
Participation in the Arab States Forum on Investment and Trade Exchange in Marine Fisheries, held in Algiers from 11–13 June 2001, organized by the Algerian Ministry of Marine Fisheries and Fishery Resources in cooperation with the Arab Union of Fish Producers. The Union contributed a working paper.
Participation in a workshop organized by the Regional Organization for the Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (PERSGA), held in Hurghada from 30 June to 3 July 2001, to discuss optimal management methods for exploiting marine resources in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, in coordination with the Environmental Affairs Agency. The Union presented a paper on the role of fishery cooperative organizations in managing and regulating fisheries.
Participation in a meeting organized by the European Union in Tunis in April 2004 to establish an organization for professional fishermen of Mediterranean countries, with participation from European and Arab Mediterranean states. Spain was selected as the headquarters of the organization.
Local Conferences and Seminars
Active participation (financial support and working papers) in all conferences and seminars organized by the Egyptian Society for the Development of Fish Resources and the Protection of Human Health, including:
Seminar on Fish Resources Development, Cairo University, 17 March 1996.
First Scientific Conference in Al-Arish, 21–23 October 1997, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Arish.
Seminar on Lake Bardawil, 31 October 1997, Bardawil.
Second Scientific Conference in Alexandria, 20–22 October 1998, Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport.
Third Scientific Conference in Mansoura, 26–28 October 1999, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University.
Fourth Annual Conference in Cairo, 17–19 October 2000, International Agricultural Center.
Participation in the seminar “Lake Mariout: Pros and Cons”, held at the Alexandria Local Council on 22 April 1999.
The Union organized a panel discussion on the use of hormones in producing mono-sex tilapia at its headquarters on 11 August 2003.
12. International Agreements
The Union actively contributed to realizing the principle of cooperation among Arab and African countries by concluding direct fishing agreements with counterpart institutions through the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Agriculture. These agreements aim at integrating natural, financial, and human resources—representing a genuine achievement long sought by Egypt.
Despite the lack of activation of governmental agreements for more than two years, the Union successfully concluded fishing agreements with:
The Republic of Yemen: operation of 20 fishing vessels in Yemeni territorial waters, with expectations of expansion.
The State of Eritrea: operation of more than 50 fishing vessels in Eritrean territorial waters.
The Republic of Sudan: operation of more than 30 fishing vessels in Sudanese territorial waters, under mutually agreed conditions.
All vessels operate under the direct supervision of the Union to ensure discipline and continuous performance evaluation.
Additionally, the Union contributed to the release of more than 40 detained fishing vessels in Yemen, Eritrea, and Sudan.
13. Cooperation with the General Authority for Fish Resources Development
The Union established its relationship with the General Authority for Fish Resources Development on the basis of full coordination, joint participation in development planning, and consultation, in a manner that serves the public interest.
Obstacles to Effective Participation
The absence of an appropriate legislative and administrative environment represents a major obstacle. This necessitates legislative reform to unleash the capacities of cooperative organizations in the development process, the adoption of decentralization in decision-making, and clarification of responsibilities between central authorities and local governance bodies.
