3 new initiatives launched within Egypt's 'Safe Shore' targeted at fishermen

CAIRO – 25 August 2021: Minister of Social Solidarity Nevine al-Qabaj announced Wednesday the launching of three new initiatives within the presidential one "Safe Shore."

The first one involves replacing 20,000 small fishing boats with new ones so as the ministry will cover 50 percent of the costs while the rest will be paid by fishermen. The boats to be replaced must not be longer than six meters, and have to be operating exclusively in the Nile River and lakes.

The second initiative is providing Fishermen cooperatives with loans through Nasser Social Bank to turn their vehicles into refrigerated ones. That step is needed to boost the production of small fishermen by better linking them with distributors and points of sale.

The third initiative is about establishing fisheries capitalizing on the feasibility studies prepared by the General Authority for Fish Resources Development (GAFRD).

"Safe Shore" – worth LE150 million - was launched in May, and consists of four phases serving 42,000 fishermen. The first was delivered to 15,000 fishermen working in Beheira's Lake Rayan and Lake Idku, Alexandria's Lake Maryout, and Lake Manzala lying in four governorates that are Port Said, Damietta, Sharqia, and Daqahliya. 

The second – which began August 25 - encompasses Kafr El Sheikh's Lake Borolos, Ismailiyah's Bitter Lakes and Lake Temsah serving 7,416 fishermen. The third phase includes the lakes constituting the Nile River's estuaries, while the fourth encompasses Lake Nasser in Aswan, and Lake Bardawil in North Sinai. 

In the launching ceremony of "Safe Shore," the first batch of fishing equipment and diving suits was handed to 1,100 fishermen. The initiative secures soft loans for fishermen and their wives so they would be able to generate income off season.

The initiative also ensures enrolling the fishermen and their families in the Universal Health Insurance Programme being introduced in governorates over phases so as each phase consists of a number of the 27 governorates.

Minister Qabaj added that small fishing boats were granted to the widows of fishermen, who have valid fishing licenses, and that fishing equipment were handed to 900 fisherwomen who do surf fishing.