An Economic Study for Fish Aquaculture in Egypt (Patterns, Determinants, and challenges)دراسة اقتصادية للاستزراع السمکي في مصر (الأنماط والمحددات والتحديات)

Abstract

The annual increase in Egyptian & Global fish production is mainly due to annual increase in fish production from aquaculture compared to natural fisheries during the study period (2000-2018), and also increasing the relative importance of fish production from aquaculture compared to natural fisheries since 2003 and 2013 in the world and Egypt, respectively. Fish Aquaculture patterns vary according to water types used in Aquaculture (freshwater, brackish water, salt water). in World, The freshwater aquaculture production is higher (60.1%) than the salt water aquaculture production (31.5%) and the brackish water (8.4%) respectively, but in Egypt, Fish that are cultured in fresh water (Tilapia, Catfishes, Carps, Bagrus spp, and Nile perch) contribute about 77.72% of the average fish production from aquaculture during the study period (2000-2018), which is estimated at about 648.8 thousand tons, while fish are farmed in brackish water, which are represented by the mullets family contributed about 18.77%, while the fish that are cultured in salt water (Seabream, Seabass, Meager, Shrimp, Eels, and Gropers) contribute very little due to the novelty of this type of aquaculture in Egypt, estimated about 3.51% Average fish production from aquaculture during the study period. Aquaculture in Egypt contributes about 80.7% of the total Egyptian fish production in 2018, which reflects its important role in filling the fish gap in Egypt. The most important determinants affecting aquaculture fish production in Egypt during the study period (2000-2018) are: (1) The average price per ton of cultured fish: increase in the average price per ton of farmed fish by 1% leads to an increase in the amount of annual aquaculture fish production about 1.3%, (2) the number of freshwater frys and fingerlings produced in private hatcheries: by increasing the number of freshwater frys and fingerlings produced in private hatcheries by 10%, leads to an increase in the amount of annual aquaculture fish production about 3.0%.