Egypt produces 2.2M tons of fish in 2020 achieving self-sufficiency by 80%

CAIRO – 28 February 2021: Chairman of the General Authority for Fish Resources Development Salah Meselhy told Egypt Today that domestic fish production recorded 2.2 million tons in 2020 achieving self-sufficiency by 80 percent.

The official pointed out that 1.7 million tons were produced by fisheries while the rest comes from the Mediterranean, the Red Sea, the Nile River, and lakes.

Meselhy detailed the three pillars of fish production development assumed by the authority. One is regular cleaning and infrastructure upgrade of lakes like Manzala, Borolos, Maryout, and Bardawil whose total production amounts to 183,000 tons per annum.  

The second aspect is the establishment of fisheries like Kafr El Sheikh's Berket Gelyoun, Port Said's Diba Triangle, and others located in the Suez Canal Axis. The third aspect is introducing fish seed production facilities through aquaculture systems in reclaimed land using underground water.   

The authority is also offering 21 sites for investors to establish capture fisheries that shall produce shrimp and not just fish. Nine sites are located in the Red Sea and 12 are in the Mediterranean.