Egypt
| Capital | Cairo |
| Official language | Arabic |
| Area | km² 1 001 450 |
| Maritime area | FAO: Mediterranean (37)
GFCM: GSA (26) |
| GFCM reference institutions involved in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors | Lakes and Fish Resources Protection and Development Agency (LFRPDA)
Previously: General Authority for Fish Resources Development (GAFRD)- Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation |
| Number of operating vessels | - Fisheries: 3083 fishing vessels (including 45% from SSF)
- Aquaculture: no vessel Total: 3083 vessel |
| Percentage / number of workers | - Fisheries: 30946 fishers (including 21.5% from SSF)
- Aquaculture: no worker Total: 30946 worker |
| Average landings in tons | - Fisheries: 49896 tonnes (including 17.5% from SSF)
- Aquaculture: No production from Mediterranean Sea Total: 49896 tonnes (at 2020) |
| Capture production (%) | - Fisheries: 100 %
- Aquaculture: 0% |
| Trade of fish product (imports and exports) in tons / in value (€) | Exports:
- Quantity: 28114 tonnes - Value: 49,768,820 € Import: - Quantity: 299745 tonnes - Value: 775,786,798 € |
| Top 5 most important species
(Average ten years: 2010-19) |
1. Sardine & Anchovy 12451 tonnes
2. Shrimp 7774 tonnes 3. Molluscs 3958 tonnes 4. Crabs 3042 tonnes 5. Bogue 2700 tonnes Total: 62553 tonnes (47.8% of total fisheries production) |
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Historical background
Egypt is located in the northeast corner of the African continent, it borders the Mediterranean Sea, between Libya and the Gaza Strip, and the Red Sea, north of Sudan. The country has a lengthy coastline of about 2450 km along both the Mediterranean and Red Seas. The Mediterranean coast of Egypt extends for about 950 km from Sallum west of the Egyptian–Libyan border to Rafah at the east of Sinai. It is one of the longest Mediterranean coastlines in North Africa.
Fisheries in Egypt are an important part of its culture and society where fishing activity has been conducted since the dawn of humanity and still continues as important commercial activity. Fisheries sector in Egypt is a major source of food security with economic and social development. Capture fisheries in marine and fresh water has a long tradition in Egypt. However, during the last two-decade freshwater aquaculture production has grown rapidly. Aquaculture production surpassed capture fishery production in terms of volume of fish produced. Natural resources represented by the sea, lakes, Nile river and its branches come next which shows a decline in landing year after year.
The basic fisheries law of Egypt was contained within Act Number. 124 of 1983 on Fishing, Aquatic Life and the Regulation for Fish Farms. Despite vigorous efforts through national legislation to address fishery management issues, the weak enforcement, low compliance and unregulated fishing suggest the need to restructure the fisheries management system. Recently, president have been ratified the Law #146 of 2021 for the Protection and Development of Lakes and Fisheries Resources in Egypt.
Regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) are key institutions for managing marine resources in the high seas and have mandates to pursue sustainable management of marine living resources and the environment. These organizations have the ability to influence the management of fisheries of member states in waters under their national jurisdiction, and are key sources for gathering scientific data concerning fisheries management. Contemporary RFMOs not only manage fish but also increasingly address wider marine ecosystem protection from fishing activities. Egypt have been participated in international treaties and regional fisheries management organizations in order to develop the national aquatic resources.
List of the releven national legal acts on fisheries and aquaculture:
Participation in international treaties, including membership in relevant regional fisheries management organizations
List of international treaties and Fisheries management organization that Egypt participated in:
| International treaties | |
| FAO Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (PSMA) | Not ratified |
| FAO Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas | 2001-08-14 ACP |
| United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea | 26 Aug 1983 RAF |
| Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks | 5 Dec 1995 SIG
Not ratified |
| The Biodiversity Convention (CBD) | 1994 RAF |
| the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). | Jan 1978 Accession |
| Regional fisheries management organizations | |
| General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) of the FAO | 19 Feb 1951 |
| International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) | 13 Oct 2007 |
National maritime delimitations
Maritime delimitation agreements have proven to be a prominent factor in the developments within international relations and cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Inland waters:
The Nile, the world’s longest river, flows north ward through Egypt for over 1532 km before it empties into the Mediterranean Sea. Just below Cairo the river splits into two major branches, the Rosetta and the Damietta. This area is known as the Nile Delta, or Lower Egypt, which has rich inland waters and coastal lakes with significant capture fishery and aquaculture potential. Via its many irrigation canals, the Nile feeds the northern lakes of Mariut, Edku, Burullus and Manzala. Also fed are the coastal lagoons of Port Fouad and Bardawil, as well as the inland Timsah and Bitter lakes and the closed lakes of Qarun and Wadi Al Raiyan, not to forget the great reservoir behind the Aswan high dam (Lake Nasser) in Upper Egypt. Some small water bodies in the western desert also have been re-developed for fish production (Toshka and New Valley water bodies).
In section 1 Definitions, Article 1 of Law 146/2021 the internal waters were defined as “The course of the Nile and its branches, canals, drains, public ponds and state-owned swamps and waters of gulfs and lagoons.”, the lakes were defined as “The submerged bodies of salty, fresh, or brackish waters connected or not connected to marine waters and its streams, and a distance of 200 meters from the end of its streams or inland waters and their streams, and a distance of 200 meters from the end of their streams, and other artificial water basins dedicated to fishing and fish production”, and the pond was defined as “A small body of water naturally submerged that arises as a result of drainage, leaching or rain. And Its depth is suitable for the growth of aquatic organisms”.
Territorial sea:
The territorial waters of the Arab Republic of Egypt shall include the inland waters (internal waters) of the Republic and its coastal sea (territorial sea) i.e. The territorial sea of the Republic extends beyond the internal waters of the Republic to a distance of 12 nautical miles seaward, as declared by decree concerning the Territorial Waters of the Arab Republic of Egypt of 15 January 1951 and amended by Presidential Decree of 17 February 1958.
Contiguous Zone:
With a view to assuring compliance with the laws and regulations relating to security, navigation, fiscal and sanitary matters, maritime surveillance may be exercised in a contiguous zone outside the coastal sea, extending for a further distance six nautical miles and measured from the base-lines of the coastal sea; this provision shall not be deemed to apply to the rights of the Kingdom of Egypt with respect to fishing.
Exclusive economic zone:
Maritime delimitation agreements[3] are generally made in order to distinguish the extent of countries’ exclusive economic zones. In the Eastern Mediterranean, there are several cases of overlapping EEZs, the resolution of which would normally fall under the Geneva Convention on the Law of the Sea. This convention provides the legal framework and guidelines for resolving such conflicts, however, several of the countries with maritime claims in the Eastern Mediterranean, namely Israel, Libya, Syria and Turkey, are not parties to, nor signatories of the Convention.
Continental shelf:
The United Arab Republic (Egypt) shall exercise rights of sovereignty over the seabed and its subsoil in the continental shelf beyond the territorial waters to the point where the depth of the water is 200 meters and deeper to the limit within which the natural resources of the bottom can be exploited. The United Arab Republic shall also have rights of sovereignty over the similar continental shelf with respect to the islands of the United Arab Republic. The foregoing is without prejudice to the description of the waters over these areas as being part of the high seas, nor shall it be detrimental to free navigation in these waters and the air space over them. The United Arab Republic shall have the exclusive right to explore, prospect and exploit all natural and mineral resources and other non-living resources as well as living organisms of the indigenous species which exist on the bottom of the sea and its subsoil in the areas indicated in the first article. To exercise this right, the United Arab Republic may construct, maintain and operate the required installations, and establish around these installations security areas for a distance of 500 meters, in which it would take the necessary action for their protection. Establishment or exercise of the rights referred to in the preceding articles shall not be contingent on the actual or symbolic possession of these areas or on the issue of special permits. No foreign person, natural or juridical, may exploit the natural resources indicated in the second article, prospect or search for them or undertake any research whatsoever in the continental shelves unless by a decision of the President of the Republic[4][5].[6][7][8] {Presidential Decision No. 1051 of 1958 concerning the Continental Shelf} {Decree concerning the Territorial Waters of the Arab Republic of Egypt of 15 January 1951, as amended by Presidential Decree of 17 February 1958}.
Social Protection for the fisheries and aquaculture sector
In Egypt there are some social protection programs provided by the state to the poor in general without specifying. Where the state does some of these programs and the private sector and civil society also do some programs for these poor groups including fishers.
There are also some institutions that collect Zakat funds from citizens for distribution to the poor groups in society such as Zakat Foundation. Some NGOs also distribute food and clothes and ration goods to the poor.
Although, there is no formal social protection programmes mainly targeting fisheries sector, however this sector can benefit from a lot of running programmes for poor people.
Presidential Decree No. 470 of 1993 on the establishment of a cooperative insurance fund on fishing boats for water resources’ cooperatives and their members is implemented. It is composed of 4 Chapters including 36 articles. Chapter 1 provides for the internal regulations and management of the fund. Chapter 2 is concerned with the insurance of the fund. Chapter 3 addresses the resources of the fund. Chapter 4 is about the records of the activities of the fund and related issues.
Egypt has a history of an extensive but largely fragmented social protection system. At times, it has been inefficient in reaching the poor and vulnerable or excludes some marginalized groups or provided inadequate protection and cost-ineffective. Social protection has often been biased towards urban areas as opposed to rural ones, where the majority of the poor and vulnerable are located. Against this background, recent social assistance programmes have strongly focused on rural Egypt.
Poverty, income and expenditures patterns significantly differ between the urban and rural Egypt. For example, households living in rural areas are more likely to suffer from income poverty than their urban counterparts. According to the recent Household Income, Expenditure and Consumption Survey 2017- 2018, 32.5 per cent of Egyptians live under the poverty line of 735.7 LE (or around 44 USD) per month. The highest percentage of poor was registered in Upper Egypt and specifically in predominantly rural governorates of Assuit and Sohag, where 46 villages had poverty rates ranging from 80 to 100 per cent.
Egypt has undergone profound economic, social and political transformations since 2011, which have resulted in increased inflation and unemployment rate and have contributed to increasing poverty. Despite the Egyptian government’s efforts and strategies to reduce poverty, monetary poverty has been on the rise over the past 15 years, both in absolute numbers and percentages, with a marked acceleration since 2010/2011.
The Ministry of Social Solidarity is the government body responsible for providing social safety networks for Egypt's most vulnerable citizens. Currently Ministry is cooperating with multiple donors via various projects to tackle existing hurdles of social protection. In 2020, Ministry of Social Solidarity commended the United Kingdom for allocating £1.8 million, through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Egypt, to support the ‘Strengthening Institutional and Human Resources Capacities of the Ministry of Social Solidarity’ project that aims to address social protection issues of vulnerable groups targeted by the Ministry through different advocacy tools including community dialogue events, launching a dynamic social media platform and mass media channels. In 2021, Egypt, the European Union and UNDP signed a €6 Million Project Agreement to support Egypt’s social protection strategies to defeat socio-economic impact of COVID-19 Pandemic. Also since 2021, The Ministry of Social Solidarity accelerates the positive parenting agenda supported by UNICEF and the European Union.
Social Assistance
For the purpose of improving secondary education institutions and its study curriculums, Education SPP is operating in Egypt, administered by the Ministry of Education and Technical Education. The objectives of SPP are promoting school attendance and community development. Targeted beneficiaries of the program are the population in poverty and is not offering any specific benefits for women. Targeting methodology of the program is universal and geographical and is linked to the UN SDG 4 – Quality Education.
The only condition in order to become a beneficiary of the program, is the enrollment in the school without the possibility of any disqualifiers. No registers are used for the selection and only birth certificate is sufficient for applying.
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Also linked to education, Egypt has an active School feeding program providing one school meal per day to an estimated 10.3 million pupils in 2017/18 in the basic school ages (6-12 years) in all governmental schools. The eligibility criteria is only age and enrollment in school. Verification mechanisms are checking the quality of the food, make sure of the attendance of the children at school.
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Another operating SPP in Egypt is Takaful and Karama - conditional social cash transfer programme for extremely poor households, which includes persons with severe disabilities or older people and is administered by the Ministry of Social Solidarity. Takaful is a family income support programme to families with children (0-18 years) it aimed to produce human development outcomes, especially nutrition, maternal and child health, and school enrolment and retention. Karama is a social inclusion programme to persons, specifically the elderly 65+ and the disabled who cannot work.it aimed to provide social protection and decent life for the most vulnerable persons. It also includes orphans (0-18) who are living outside institutions and whose caretakers are their extended family members. The TKP project aimed to support the establishment of the government’s national CCT programme, which was planned to benefit about 1.5 million poor households by the end of 2017. The programme beneficiaries are poor households with children under 18 years, poor elderly (aged 65 years and above), and poor persons with severe and permanent disability. Takaful is a family income support with co-responsibility (conditional) CT programme aimed at reducing poverty and producing human development improvements in health and education. Karama is an unconditional income support and social inclusion sub programme that aims at the protection and inclusion of the poor elderly (above age 65) and persons with severe disability. The project consists of three components: (i) provision of conditional and unconditional CTs under the Takaful and Karama programme; (ii) support for SSN targeting and operational systems; and (iii) project management, monitoring and evaluation. The fishery groups covered by SPP are subsistence, artisanal and small-scale. It targets the population with the following employment status: wage workers in informal employment, self-employment registered and non-registered, unpaid family workers and unemployed. The necessary documents to apply for a program are birth certificate, ID and proof of employment status. Social registries and fisheries registries are the data repositories for selection of beneficiaries. Benefits are delivered monthly, by post offices throughout the country.
The programme is pro-women and pro-children. Around 89 per cent of the cash payments are made to the mothers within the households based on the notion that women tend to put funds to better use than men and will more probably direct them to their children’s welfare. Additionally, Takaful is now preparing the ground for putting into effect the “soft conditionality” of the Takaful programme starting September 2018. Through the application of health and education conditionality the programme aims at improving mother and child health, also children education. The additional subsidy through cash transfer to fulfil conditionality is in essence compensating the households for the indirect or opportunity costs of using these “free” services and act as an incentive for them to utilize these services and putting pressure on them to improve the supply-side and quality of the health and education services.
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Social Pension Program (Cash Transfer), regulated by the Social Solidarity Law no. 137 of 2010, is provided to extremely poor households with elderly people and people with severe disabilities, that is also administered by the Ministry of Social Solidarity of Egypt. SPP delivers cash transfers, food baskets and health care packages for poor families. Targeted beneficiaries are orphans, disabled people, single-parent (female-headed) households, and divorced women and their families. Fishing groups targeted by SPP are subsistence, artisanal and small-scale. Targeted methodology for SPP is income tested and is aimed at the poorest, based on the measurements of their income/assets.
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Extra Social protection measures are taken amid the outbreak of COVID-19. 411,000 households were added to social pension and Takaful & Karama Programs that serves around 3.6 million people. SPP allocates 500 EGP monthly disbursement for three months with a total of 1500 EGP to support 1.6 million informal workers. In coordination with non-governmental institutions, the Egyptian Food Bank cooperates with the local/governorate level and the Ministry of Social Solidarity to distribute food rations in various governorates. Create an inter-ministerial committee to develop a strategy to extend social protection to informal workers. SPP delivers food baskets, health insurance, unemployment benefits and wage subsidies for the ones in need and covers economic and environmental shocks. Benefits are delivered by banks transfers and post offices throughout the country once in every 6 months.
Social Insurance
In January 2018, Egypt passed a landmark Universal social health insurance System (SHI) law (Law 2/2018 for universal health insurance), which has a comprehensive approach and will be implemented gradually over a 12-year period. The law makes health insurance coverage mandatory. The poorest will be exempt from paying contributions and will have access to quality health care services. UHI is a compulsory system based on social solidarity, where those who cannot afford contributions will be exempted, based on a decree issued by the prime minister to regulate exemptions. Universal Health Insurance Organization, Health Care Authority will be responsible for the implementation of the insurance system.
The major objectives of the system are poverty alleviation, maternal protection, improvement of nutrition, community development, increased access to medical care, extension of medical care and reducing the risks. The system is expected to ensure quality health services and adequate levels of financial protection for all, with the family being the main insurance coverage unit. Targeted beneficiaries will be the people having permanent residence permit of Egypt; therefore all fishing groups will be targeted. System benefits women by providing health care services and maternity care, including a special initiative for prevention from breast cancer.
The system used universal targeting methodology and is linked to UN SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-Being and, The national Decent Life initiative, The national Family development. System uses UHIO verification mechanism for the eligibility with the integrated database. For the selection of the beneficiaries, integrated and social registries are being used. The benefits are delivered by national health care providers including all the governmental and private and NGOs hospitals when the beneficiary has a need.
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On 19 August 2019, Egypt’s president approved a new Social Insurance and Pension Law (no. 148 of 2019) that has been effective from 1 January 2020. The new unified law covers a number of insurance and pension beneficiaries, including 10 categories covered for the first time, such as temporary and seasonal workers, housekeepers, small-scale agricultural tenants and property owners. The social insurance scheme covers the risks of old age, disability, death, work injuries, illness, and unemployment according to which category the beneficiary belongs. It is governed by the National organization for Social Insurance (NOSI). Civil servants, public and private sector workers, self-employed and informal workers – all are targeted beneficiaries of the SPP. Specific benefit for women is only maternity benefits for the duration of 3-4 months. All fishing groups are included in the list of beneficiaries. There is coherence between the Social Insurance Law and the Fisheries Regulation Law, whereby a fishing card is required to participate in the social insurance system and pay the social insurance contributions. Key factors for criteria are age, income status, health status and others declared by the Ministry of Health and Civil Status Authority. SPP annual expenditure as a percentage of the GDP is 6%.
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Bar Aman – Safe Land is an initiative/program that aims to empower fishers through different interventions, including providing economic inclusion opportunities and micro-finance services, in addition to including them into the social security and insurance scheme. The SPP is merging two categories of Social insurance and labour market intervention. It is administered by The Ministry of Social Solidarity, in collaboration with the Central bank of Egypt, International Labor Organization, and National NGOs. The SPP delivers social assistance and insurance and micro-business loan benefits. Targeted beneficiaries are the unorganized labour groups from fishers within the low-income class, mostly small-scale and artisanal fishing group representatives. The SPP considers climate change as a factor in protection and the ministry is working with the ILO to assessment the negative impact of climate change on the fishers and what are proper interventions and measures have to adopt. Health and economic shocks are covered by the SPP, if the beneficiaries are be registered in the unorganized labour national database. Repositories used are integrated beneficiary registries and integrated national databases. Benefits are delivered in-person, every month. Fishers have some barriers in accessing the SPP because of the limited mechanisms for registering into the system and for making contributions represent barriers to participating in social security for all those engaged in informal, low paid and unorganized work.
Labour market interventions
The government of Egypt provide subsidies for necessities such as food, health, and housing. It also provides fuel and power subsidies. However, non-poor Egyptians tend to benefit from these subsidies as well. Over the past years, fuel subsidies have been reduced significantly, and some of the savings have been channeled into subsidies for health and housing for poor families. The SPP is administered by the Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade of Egypt. Objectives of the SPP are to support income and community development of communities. Targeted beneficiaries are poor families, but the program is covering whole country and includes all fisheries groups. SPP is covering economic shocks, such as unemployment, harvest failure, financial crisis, etc. Income status and the socio-economic characteristics are the key factors to be included in SPP.
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Active Labour Market programmes are managed by the ministry of manpower to address main labour market challenges (low female labour force participation, high youth unemployment, mismatch education – labour market, addressing sector bottlenecks, informal sector). The objectives are income support, maternal protection, job matching, enhanced employability, short-term employment and self-employment. Small-scale fisheries group is the beneficiary target of SPP. SPP is administered by self-targeting methodology. SPP targets wage workers in informal employment, self-employed nonregistered and unemployed citizens.
FISHERIES
The Egyptian fisheries stand unique in contrast to other maritime countries in terms of fish productivity due to low productivity of its coastal waters both in Mediterranean Sea and Red Sea. The coastal waters support few seasonal pelagics fishes like sardines, and anchovies, horse mackerel, jacks, blue fishes, mullet, chub mackerel, Atlantic mackerel and tuna are important fisheries in the Mediterranean Sea.
Traditionally, the coastal waters were exploited by nomadic tribes and migratory fishers who restricted their fishing to tidal waters, to supply fish to local markets, clans and for subsistence needs. However, increasing sophistication through modern gears and mechanization in the past three decades has led to overfishing of stocks in Mediterranean coast.
Type of fisheries
Industrial fisheries
Egypt has an industrial fleet comprised of 20-30 meter vessels, based on the Mediterranean style of fishing craft. These utilize heavier gear such as purse seines, trawls and hand lines. Ice is taken to sea.
Pelagic species are landed by purse seiners, trawlers, and artisanal vessels. Catches are taken mostly by purse seining. All fishing grounds are either fully exploited or overfished. Major pelagic stocks include horse mackerel and scads (Carangidae), round herring (Clupeidae), Sardines (Clupeidae), slimy mackerel, and little tuna (Scombridae). Demersal species supporting trawl fisheries include shrimp (Penaeidae), lizard fish (Synodontidae), threadfin bream (Nemipteridae), red mullet (Mullidae), horse mackerel and scads, elasmobranches, crabs and cuttlefish and squids. Artisanal fishery catch is composed mainly of groupers (Serranidae), long spine bream (Sparidae), elasmobranches, little tuna and Spanish mackerel (Scombridae). In addition, more than 100 fish species belonging to about 20 families are unsorted and grouped in the “others” category.
Small-scale Fisheries
Small-scale fisheries operate only within the territorial waters due to its small size vessel (less than 12m LOA). The limited productivity of coastal waters has been further aggravated by damming of river Nile which provided much of the nutrients to coastal waters of the Mediterranean Egyptian coast.
Overfishing coupled with expansion of fishing to target demersal stocks, destructive fishing, poaching and pollution have posed a significant challenge to SSF.
Recreational fisheries
Recreational Fishing (RF) is all types of fishing activities, including hunting, carried out by any individual, with or without a boat, do not involve the sale of fish. GAFRD issued a 4807 RF license in the Mediterranean in 2020.
Article 19 of the Executive Regulations for the law 124/1983 specify the type and quantity of equipment that a hobbyist can use alone or that he can carry on the each of RF fishing boat, the Executive Regulations for the new Law 146/2021 will have the same paragraph with more details about the RF.
Access regime to fisheries resources
All Egyptian fishing vessels have equal access to waters in the entire Mediterranean coast.
According to Egyptian Fishing low (Law No. 146 of 2021) Art. 34which stated that “It is prohibited to operate vessels without a license issued by the Agency. The executive regulations shall specify the data for the license, its duration, terms and procedures of issuance and renewal. It is also prohibited for any person to engage in professional fishing without holding a fisher ID. The executive regulations shall specify the data of the fishing card and the rules and procedures for obtaining it”.
Authorizations and licensing schemes
According to Egyptian Fishing low (Law No. 146 of 2021) Art. 34 which stated that “It is prohibited to operate vessels without a license issued by the Agency. The executive regulations shall specify the data for the license, its duration, terms and procedures of issuance and renewal. It is also prohibited for any person to engage in professional fishing without holding a fisher ID. The executive regulations shall specify the data of the fishing card and the rules and procedures for obtaining it”.
Decree 1572/2017 no issue a new licence for fishing for 5 years.
Fishing opportunities
For Tuna fisheries the total allowable catches (TAC), and quotas is applied for Egyptian fishery are based on the ICAAT resolution on catch of tuna. There are not TAC under the framework of the GFCM that are applied to Egypt.
Relevant GFCM decisions:
Conservation and management measures
Area and time restrictions
The aim of this Resolution is to regulate fishing in the Mediterranean Sea. It is consisting of 3 articles. All fishing professions are prohibited to fish in the Mediterranean Sea during the period 1 May to 30 June of each year (art. 1). Transgressor fishing units shall be stopped for 2 months and all fishes and equipment shall be sequestered by the General Authority for fish Wealth Development, and for 6 months in case of the repetition of transgressions.
Fishing by trawl gear should takes place three miles from the coast in the Mediterranean Sea coast.
Sallum is the first Egyptian MPA on the Egyptian Mediterranean coast, established in March 2010 by Law No. 102 of 1983 and Prime Ministerial Decree 533 for 2010 declaration of the area.
| List of fisheries restricted areas | ||
| Decision/Article | Provision | Duration |
| Sallum Bay | ||
Relevant GFCM decisions:
- Resolution GFCM/43/2019/1 on the mapping of measures applicable to fisheries restricted areas in the GFCM area of application
- Resolution GFCM/37/2013/1 on area-based management of fisheries, including through the establishment of Fisheries Restricted Areas (FRAs) in the GFCM convention area and coordination with the UNEP-MAP initiatives on the establishment of SPAMIs
- Recommendation GFCM/29/2005/1 on the management of certain fisheries exploiting demersal and deep-water species and the establishment of a fisheries restricted area below 1000 m
Minimum sizes
It is prohibited to fish, sell or possess fish or other aquatic organisms in a fresh, frozen, dried or salted condition whose lengths and sizes are less than the lengths and sizes specified by a decision of the Agency (Law 146/ 2021Article (24)).
- Ministerial Decree 303 of 1987 on the executive Regulations for the Law of fishing and aquaculture and regulations of fish farms. (article 24) (article 5).
| Fisheries minimum size | ||
| Commercial name | Scientific name | Minimum size |
| Lobster | Palinurus elephas | 15cm |
Protected species
| Marine protected species | ||
| Name | Scientific name | National Legal Act |
| Sea cucumber | Resolution 82/2017 Sea cucumber | |
| Puffer fish | Fishing prohibit 408/2008 Puffer fish | |
Relevant GFCM decisions:
- Recommendation GFCM/29/2005/1 on the management of certain fisheries exploiting demersal and deep-water species and the establishment of a fisheries restricted area below 1000 m
- Recommendation GFCM/30/2006/2 on the establishment of a closed season for the common dolphinfish fisheries using fish aggregating devices
- Recommendation GFCM/35/2011/2 on the exploitation of red coral in the GFCM area of application
- Recommendation GFCM/35/2011/5 on fisheries measures for the conservation of the Mediterranean monk seal in the GFCM area of application
- Recommendation GFCM/36/2012/1 on further measures for the exploitation of red coral in the GFCM area of application
- Recommendation GFCM/36/2012/3 on fisheries management measures for conservation of sharks and rays in the GFCM area of application
- Recommendation GFCM/42/2018/1on a multiannual management plan for European eel (Anguilla anguilla) in the Mediterranean
- Recommendation GFCM/42/2018/3 on a multiannual management plan for sustainable trawl fisheries targeting giant red shrimp and blue and red shrimp in the Levant Sea (geographical subareas 24, 25, 26 and 27)
Resolution 82/2017 prohibits Sea cucumber, fishing prohibit 408/2008 Puffer fish
Law 9/2009 article 28
Any of the following acts shall be prohibited:
Firstly: Hunting, killing, catching birds and wild animals or marine living organisms; as well as possessing, transporting, importing and exporting or offering to sell such birds and animals, either dead or alive, as a whole, in part or their derivatives, or practicing activities that tend to destroy their natural habitats or properties or damage their nests, eggs or their offspring.
The Executive Regulation of this law shall determine species of these creatures and sites to which the provisions of the above mentioned paragraph shall apply.
Appendix 4 of The Executive Regulation of the Law 9/2009
2) mammals:
| Scientific name | English name |
| Dugong dugong | Dugong |
| Balaenoptera borealis | Sei Whale |
| Balaenoptera physalus | Fin Wahle |
| Physeter catodon | Sperm Wahle |
| Ziphius cavirostris | Cuvier's Beaked Whale |
| Globicephala macrorhynchus | Short-finned Pilot Whale |
| Orcinus orca | Killer Whale |
| Pseudorca crassidens | False Killer Whale |
| Delphinus delphis | Common Dolphin |
| Grampus griseus | Risso's Dolphin |
| Stenella attenuata | Pantropical Spotted Dolphin |
| Stenella coeruleoalba | Striped Dolphin |
| Stenella longirostris | Spinner Dolphin |
| Steno bredanensis | Rough-toothed Dolphin |
| Tursiops aduncus | Indo-pacific Bottlenose Dolphin |
| Monachus monachus | Mediterranean
Monk Seal |
3) Amphibians and reptiles:
| Scientific name | English name |
| Testudo kleinmanni | Egyptian Tortoise |
| Testudo werneri | Sinai Tortoise |
| Caretta caretta | Loggerhead Turtle |
| Caretta caretta | Loggerhead Turtle |
| Chelonia mydas | Green Turtle |
| Eretmochelys imbricata | Hawksbill Turtle |
| Lepidochelys olivacea | Olive Riddly |
| Dermochelys coriacea | Leatherback Turtle |
Fishing gear and methods
Relevant GFCM decisions:
Bycatch
Relevant GFCM decisions:
- Recommendation GFCM/35/2011/3 on reducing incidental bycatch of seabirds in fisheries in the GFCM area of application
- Recommendation GFCM/35/2011/4 on the incidental bycatch of sea turtles in fisheries in the GFCM area of application
- Recommendation GFCM/35/2011/5 on fisheries measures for the conservation of the Mediterranean monk seal in the GFCM area of application
- Recommendation GFCM/36/2012/2 on mitigation of incidental catches of cetaceans in the GFCM area of application
Trade and market measures
Few measures were issued regarding the trade and market.
- Supply Minster Decree 665/2013 prohibit handling trading of poison species (List of poison species).
- Ministerial decree No. 1566 of 2007 dated 8/11/2007 for Banning the export of sea cucumbers (Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation).
Monitoring, control and surveillance measures
Procedures for controlling Egyptian fishing vessels:
Egyptian fishing vessels are subjected to the provisions of the Egyptian Fishing Law and the decisions regulating their work, the most important of which are:
It is not allowed for any vessel operating in marine waters to do fishing activities in the sea without obtaining the necessary permits where it is not only related to illegal fishing, but also to Egyptian national security. Therefore, there is tight control over the Egyptian coasts, and no vessel can penetrate this system
If any information is available to the security authority about committing any vessel in violation of the fishing law, whether fishing in places where fishing is prohibited, fishing with tools that are prohibited to be used, fishing for prohibited species, or attempting to work in neighboring countries, criminal penalties are imposed on the vessel in addition to the penalties in the fishing law.
The fishing law includes severe penalties that we believe do not exist in any other country. The vessel is suspended for a period of 6 months for the first violation. In the second violation, the boat’s license is withdrawn permanently and the license is written off from the records where Egypt has a regimenation in this regard, "Attached are copies of the numerous penalties on fishing vessels."
Fishing vessels flying the flag of another country are not allowed to fish in Egyptian waters.
Fishing vessels flying the Egyptian flag shall not fish in waters outside national jurisdiction. There are no landings in ports outside the Egyptian jurisdiction.
Landings in Egyptian ports.
In the Mediterranean, there are 9 landing points, and fish is not allowed to leave except through ports and landing points, as each vessel departs from a specific port and returns to the same port and is recorded by the border coastal guards where release and return operations are under security control. No vessel can enter any port without permission from the security authorities and annotation in the vessel register to do so.
After the vessel enters the fishing port, the production quantities on the vessel are counted and recorded in an initial form with the responsible employee.
The sample system is limited to each craft separately, and production quantities are recorded monthly alphabetically.
Procedures for controlling Egyptian fishing vessels:
Egyptian fishing vessels are subjected to the provisions of the Egyptian Fishing Law and the decisions regulating their work, the most important of which are:
- It is not allowed for any vessel operating in marine waters to do fishing activities in the sea without obtaining the necessary permits where it is not only related to illegal fishing, but also to Egyptian national security.
- Therefore, there is tight control over the Egyptian coasts, and no vessel can penetrate this system
If any information is available to the security authority about committing any vessel in violation of the fishing law, whether fishing in places where fishing is prohibited, fishing with tools that are prohibited to be used, fishing for prohibited species, or attempting to work in neighboring countries, criminal penalties are imposed on the vessel in addition to the penalties in the fishing law.
The fishing law includes severe penalties that we believe do not exist in any other country. The vessel is suspended for a period of 6 months for the first violation. In the second violation, the boat’s license is withdrawn permanently and the license is written off from the records where Egypt has a regimenation in this regard, "Attached are copies of the numerous penalties on fishing vessels."
Fishing vessels flying the flag of another country are not allowed to fish in Egyptian waters.
In Egypt IUU fishing cases have been consistently reported for the last 5 years. IUU fishing occurs usually from June to October in the territorial sea as well as in waters adjacent to it. Main fishing gears involved in IUU fishing are trawlers and purse seiners, usually boats over 20 m in length. The main target species is shrimp and there is no record for discarded fish. Ghost fishing is not monitored.
Revenues of the IUU products are not estimated and there is no on-going study for IUU fishing.
There are legal measures in place against IUU fishing cases, such as suspending licenses for a period of six months (the first time) and revoking the license (the second time). Records about fines and detained boats are available.
Coastguards or fisheries authorities are well-informed on IUU fishing activities and there are observers in the fishing ports and on-board for bluefin tuna fisheries.
Exacerbating sanctions, increasing awareness among fishing associations, better surveillance at sea and using VMS, could be promising solutions to mitigate IUU fishing in the Mediterranean Sea.
Register and vessel identification
The article 16 of the Law 146/21 requires that the vessel designated for fishing must be numbered on both sides with a serial number and a mark indicating class of the vessel and the area in which it is authorized to fish, in accordance with the rules, conditions and forms set by the Executive Regulation.
Article (17):
The Agency’s approval of the parameters and dimensions of the fishing vessel must be obtained, or when changing them in accordance with the controls and standards set by the Executive Regulation.
Relevant National Legal Acts:
- Minsters of Transportation decree 103/1990 registration of any Egyptian vessel
- Minsters of Transportation decree 47/1993 Identification of any Egyptian vessel
Relevant GFCM decisions:
- Recommendation GFCM/33/2009/5 on the establishment of the GFCM regional fleet register
- Resolution GFCM/41/2017/6 on the application of an International Maritime Organization number
Port State measures
Egypt has not designated ports for entering foreign fishing vessels.
The main fishing ports along the Egyptian Mediterranean coast are Matrouh, Alexandria (Anfoshi), Alexandria (Abu Qir), Madaaia, Rashid, Motobas( Burullus), Baltim, Damietta (Izbet El-Borg), PortSaid and Arish.
Resolution No.146 of 2013 concerning Fishing Ports. This Resolution consisting of 4 articles aims at re-forming the Supreme Committee for the integrated management of fishing ports in Egypt. Main tasks of the Committee are: pursuing the work of the General Authority for Fish Resources Development relating to fishing ports; establishing committees for their development; studying obstacles and problems and ways to solve them; and controlling over the implementation of laws and fishing methods.
Management of Fishing Ports and Marine Communication Center
The article 58 of the Law 146/21. The Agency undertakes the management and operation of all fishing ports, berths, departure points and inlets, as well as expresses the reasoned opinion for the establishment of new fishing ports. Taking its opinion shall be obligatory without prejudice to the provisions of Articles (1 and 2) of Law No. 1 of 1996 regarding the dry and specialized ports, and the executive regulations shall specify the controls and procedures of its management and operation.
Relevant GFCM decisions:
Logbook and landing obligations
Landings in Egyptian ports.
In the Mediterranean, there are 9 landing points, and fish is not allowed to leave except through ports and landing points, as each vessel departs from a specific port and returns to the same port and is recorded by the coastal guards where release and return operations are under security control. No vessel can enter any port without permission from the security authorities and annotation in the vessel register to do so.
After the vessel enters the fishing port, the production quantities on the vessel are counted and recorded in an initial form with the responsible employee.
The sample system is limited to each craft separately, and production quantities are recorded monthly alphabetically. "Form is attached."
The Law 146/2021 is requesting the implementation of a catch reporting tool in order to collect data on the Egyptian catch. The tool will be further implementation by specific national regulations.
If it is proven that the vessel is outside the territorial waters without a permit from the Ministry of Defense or that it has carried out any illegal, unregulated or unreported fishing works, the license shall be withdrawn for a period of one year, and if the violation is repeated, the license shall be withdrawn permanently.
If it is proven that the vessel has carried out any activities in any of the neighboring countries without having agreements with those countries, or the vessel is used in any other activities such as smuggling, illegal immigration, sale or smuggling of petroleum products or any other activities not specified in the license issued to the vessel or operating a vessel license on more than one hull the license shall be withdrawn permanently.
Relevant GFCM decisions:
- Resolution GFCM/43/2019/3 on the implementation of a vessel monitoring system and an electronic logbook in the GFCM area of application
- Recommendation GFCM/35/2011/1 concerning the establishment of a GFCM Logbook, amending Recommendation GFCM/34/2010/1
Inspection
Egypt is currently working on the implementation of the Law 146/2021 including inspection procedures.
Relevant GFCM decisions:
Vessel Monitoring System
In line with the obligation of the GFCM decisions, Egypt is implementing a national vessel monitoring system with the objective to cover the Egyptian fleet. In line with article 18 of the Law 146/2021, it is prohibited to obtain or renew the license of a fishing vessel unless after ensuring that a tracking device is installed on the vessel. Provided that, the Agency shall be committed to provide the necessary tracking devices for the vessels and deliver them to the owner of the vessel on trust. The Executive Regulation shall set forth the regulating rules in this regard.
The captain of the vessel or the person in charge of managing it shall be committed to maintain the tracking device and not to disconnect or remove it, or to act in a manner that would make it inoperable.
In the event of a violation, the license shall be suspended for a period of three months. In the event that the violation is repeated for the second time, the suspension shall be for one year. In the event of recurrence, the license will be permanently withdrawn.
A Marine Communication Center shall be established within the Agency in line with the article 59 of the Law 146/2021 that shall be specialized in following up and securing the movement of fishing vessels, and the Prime Minister, based on the presentation of the Agency, shall issue a resolution regarding the system and rules of work of the center and its branches.
The Marine Communication Center, by the article 60 of the Law 146/2021, in each fishing area shall ensure making contact with the vessels while they are sailing for fishing, and the captain of the vessel shall be adhered to disclose any data requested by the Marine Communication Center, whether it was related to the location of the vessel or related to the people thereon and the emergency events it faces.
The captain of the vessel shall contact the Center and report any emergency conditions and he shall abide by the instructions issued to him.
Relevant GFCM decisions:
- Resolution GFCM/43/2019/3 on the implementation of a vessel monitoring system and an electronic logbook in the GFCM area of application
- Recommendation GFCM/33/2009/7 concerning minimum standards for the establishment of a vessel monitoring system in the GFCM area of application;
IUU fishing regulations and sanctions
In Egypt IUU fishing cases have been consistently reported for the last 5 years.
IUU fishing occurs usually from June to October in the territorial sea as well as in waters adjacent to it. Main fishing gears involved in IUU fishing are trawlers and purse seiners, usually boats over 20 m in length. The main target species is shrimp and there is no record for discarded fish. Ghost fishing is not monitored.
Revenues of the IUU products are not estimated and there is no on-going study for IUU fishing.
There are legal measures in place against IUU fishing cases, such as suspending licenses for a period of one year (the first time) and revoking the license (the second time). Records about fines and detained boats are available. Coastguards or fisheries authorities are well-informed on IUU fishing activities and there are observers in the fishing ports and on-board for bluefin tuna fisheries.
Exacerbating sanctions, increasing awareness among fishing associations, better surveillance at sea and using VMS, could be promising solutions to mitigate IUU fishing in the Mediterranean Sea.
IUU fishing in the Mediterranean Sea
The article 36 of the Law 146/2021 is determining that if it is proven that the vessel is outside the territorial waters without a permit from the Ministry of Defense or that it has carried out any illegal, unregulated or unreported fishing works, the license shall be withdrawn for a period of one year, and if the violation is repeated, the license shall be withdrawn permanently.
If it is proven that the vessel has carried out any activities in any of the neighboring countries without having agreements with those countries, or the vessel is used in any other activities such as smuggling, illegal immigration, sale or smuggling of petroleum products or any other activities not specified in the license issued to the vessel or operating a vessel license on more than one hull the license shall be withdrawn permanently.
Furthermore, the article 62.10 of the Law 146/2021 is fixing the sanction related to possible cases of IUU fishing in Egypt. In fact, anyone who violates or assumed in the violation of provisions of Article (36) in that law, shall be punished by detain for a period not less than a year and by a fine not less than 100.000 LE but doesn’t exceed 500.000 LE. In case of recidivism, the penalty shall be doubled.
In all circumstances, all vessels, caught fishes, hunted birds and fishing gears that were used shall be kept under control. Moreover, all seizers or their price shall be confiscated for the account of the developing agency.
Relevant GFCM decisions:
- Recommendation GFCM/43/2019/8 on the establishment of a list of vessels presumed to have carried out illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the GFCM area of application, amending Recommendation GFCM/33/2009/8
- Recommendation GFCM/41/2017/7 on a regional plan of action to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the GFCM area of application
- Decision GFCM/38/2014/1 Roadmap to fight illegal, unreported and unregulated IUU fishing in the Mediterranean Sea
- Recommendation GFCM/33/2009/8 on the establishment of a list of vessels presumed to have carried out illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the GFCM area of application repealing Recommendation GFCM/30/2006/4
AQUACULTURE
Administrative authorizations and licenses
Allocated zones for aquaculture
Relevant GFCM decisions:
- Resolution 36/2012/1 on guidelines on Allocated Zones for Aquaculture (AZA)
- Recommendation GFCM/41/2017/1 on the reporting of aquaculture data and information repealing Recommendation GFCM/35/2011/6
- Resolution GFCM/41/2017/1 on a strategy for the sustainable development of Mediterranean and Black Sea aquaculture
- Resolution GFCM/41/2017/2 on guidelines for the streamlining of aquaculture authorization and leasing processes
Trade and market measures
Social protection for aquaculture farmers
Environmental regulation of aquaculture activities
- ↑ https://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=NORMLEXPUB:11300:0::NO::P11300_INSTRUMENT_ID:312333
- ↑ https://www.un.org/Depts/los/LEGISLATIONANDTREATIES/STATEFILES/EGY.htm
- ↑ https://www.jag.navy.mil/organization/documents/mcrm/Egypt%202019.pdf
- ↑ https://www.marefa.org/%D8%AD%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%AF_%D9%85%D8%B5%D8%B1/simplified
- ↑ https://www.un.org/Depts/los/LEGISLATIONANDTREATIES/STATEFILES/EGY.htm
- ↑ https://www.fao.org/3/y5880e/y5880e09.htm
- ↑ https://www.jag.navy.mil/organization/documents/mcrm/Egypt%202019.pdf
- ↑ https://www.un.org/Depts/los/LEGISLATIONANDTREATIES/PDFFILES/EGY_1990_noteverbale.pdf
