Dr. Salah Moselhy, Chairman of the General Authority for Fish Resources Development, confirmed the increase in Egypt’s domestic fish production to nearly 2 million tons. In statements to “Youm7,” he explained that fish production from aquaculture reached 1.7 million tons, while the remainder of local fish production comes from natural fisheries (lakes, the two seas, and the Nile). He added that Egypt’s self-sufficiency rate in fish has exceeded 95%.

The Chairman of the Authority stated that fish resource development is being carried out through several key pillars. The first focuses on the development and rehabilitation of lakes (Manzala, Burullus, Mariout, and Bardawil). The second pillar is expanding aquaculture through national projects such as (Berket Ghalioun, the Deba Triangle, East Port Said, and the Suez Canal Company). The third pillar involves developing hatcheries to produce fry, especially marine fry. The fourth pillar focuses on expanding integrated aquaculture, particularly with the increase in reclaimed lands and reliance on well water.

Moselhy added that there is a plan to increase fish production by converting traditional farming systems into intensive and semi-intensive systems, expanding integrated aquaculture in desert reclamation areas, using well water, recycling water, and maximizing returns per unit of water by first using it for fish farming and then for irrigating crops. The plan also includes expanding marine fish cages and crustacean farming, especially shrimp, upgrading and improving production sites affiliated with the Authority to boost productivity, and expanding marine cage aquaculture. Approval has been granted to offer 21 marine cage sites to investors, including 9 in the Red Sea and 12 in the Mediterranean Sea.

A report by the General Authority for Fish Resources Development, affiliated with the Ministry of Agriculture, confirmed that the development and rehabilitation of the lakes (Manzala, Burullus, Mariout, and Bardawil) is a national project sponsored by the President of the Republic and implemented in coordination with the Engineering Authority of the Armed Forces in cooperation with the General Authority for Fish Resources Development. Development phases for these and other lakes are ongoing.