Appendix 5. Country profiles for the north african Mediterranean countries

1. Morocco

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General and demographic information^[3]

General economic data

Morocco is the largest exporter of phosphates and holds about three-fourths of all proven reserves in the world. The other natural resources are iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, salt, coal and petroleum. The textile and leather industries employ a considerable portion of the industrial workforce and produce export goods successfully. The hydro-electric potential of Morocco is worth mentioning, though it is virtually untapped. Morocco produces two-thirds of the grains needed to feed the population and has the potential to achieve self-sufficiency. The major crops grown are wheat, barley, maize, citrus fruits, beans, tomatoes, potatoes, olives and oilseeds. The tourism sector in the country has been developing in recent years, while the fishing sector offers high potential.

Structure and characteristic of the fishing sector^[7]

The fishing industry plays an important role in Morocco’s economy.

With around 3 500 km of coastline and 27 fishing ports and all the resulting advantages^[8], Morocco is a country with extensive fishing resources and one of the most important fish producers in Africa. It is the world leader in the catching and exporting of sardines. In 1999, it provided 46% of world production of European pilchard (Sardina pilchardus).

Fishing activity is mainly in the Atlantic area, where the most important ports are - in order of importance - Agadir, Casablanca, Laayoune, Tan Tan and Dakhla, while the most important landing ports in the Mediterranean are Nador, Al Hoceima and M’diq.

The fishing fleet consists of a great variety of vessel types, in three categories: inshore fleet, deep-sea fleet and artisanal fleet. The inshore fleet in 1998 comprised 2 523 units, totalling 76 761 GRT, consisting of 428 trawlers, 397 purse seiners, 971 long-liners, 587 multipurpose vessels and 103 other fishing vessels. Sardines (Sardina pilchardus) represent the principal target species of the inshore fleet (62% (in quantity terms) of the total catches landed by this segment of the Moroccan fleet). Given the low market value of this species, sardines represent only 10% of the total landings of the inshore fleet in terms of value. The landings of purse seiners (mainly represented by pelagic species) constitute the principal raw material for the canning industry, for fish meal production and for the land-based freezing units. White fish (such as hake, sparides and other demersal fishes) are the principal landings of the coastal trawlers, and represent the principal source for the national fresh fish market, with a little destined for export.

In 1998, the deep-sea fleet consisted of 454 vessels, totalling 146 000 GRT, distributed as follows: chalutiers céphalopodiers (336), crevettiers (60), chalutiers pélagiques congélateurs (5), senneurs thoniers congélateurs (4), navires réfrigérés (21), and autres chalutiers congélateurs (28).

Finally, the artisanal fleet consisted of 18 000 small vessels, with an average size 2 GRT and equipped with an outboard engine of between 8 and 25 hp.

In 1999, the total production of the fishery sector was around 754 000 t.^[9] Capture production is the principal source for the fishing sector. In 1999 it was 745 400 t. Sardine (Sardina pilchardus) is the most landed species. In 1999, it represented almost the 60% of total captures. Another important species for the Moroccan fishery is octopus, whose landings, in 1999, were 84 560 t (11% of the total).

Even if aquaculture represents a negligible part of total production (less than 1%), the figure 1.1, in the next page, shows an increasing trend between 1988 and 1999. In 1999, freshwater culture was the principal type of farming: it gave about the 60% of the aquaculture production. In spite of this, from 1989 to 1997, mariculture production was the principal source of fish farming. There are several natural sites along the Moroccan coastline which are used for mariculture. Some of the most important are the lagoons at Nador, Moulay Bousselham, Oualidia, Sidi Moussa, and Khnifis, the mouths of the Moulouya, Tehadrt, Loukkos and Oum errabie rivers and the Dakhla bay.^[10]

Figure A5.1 - Aquaculture production by type of environment, Morocco, 1988-99.

Source: FAO, Fishstat 2001

The importance of the fishing sector in Morocco is reflected also in the fish processing industry, with canned fish and other seafood one of the most important branches. In 1998, the fish processing branch represented, in terms of output, 9% of the total food processing sector. This percentage increases to 15% in terms of value added. The fish processing sector plays a more important role if one considers the employment it provides: 25% of the global food processing sector.

Table A5.1.1 Food processing sector, Morocco,1998

SOURCE: International Yearbook of Industrial Statistics, UNIDO, 2001.

NOTES: in this table total (food sector) does not consider all the food branches.

The canning sector is the most important branch of the Moroccan fishery industry. With more than 40 establishments, the sector employs around 20 000 people; the output is almost totally export-oriented (around 80%). Mostly based in Safi and Agadir, in 1997, the canning fishery handled 150 000 t of pelagic species and had an output of 70 000 t of canned fish product.

Semi-preserved activities consist mainly of salting and processing anchovies. With about 20 units, this sector employs around 4 000 people and produces an output mostly destined for export. Semi-preserving establishments are distributed along all the coast and handle about 24 000 t of fish per year to produce about 10 000 t of semi-preserved products.

Freezing is based on 70 land-based units, which employ 3 000 people, and by several deep-sea freezing vessels. Establishments are mainly located in Agadir and Dakhla, and, in 1997, they handled around 15 000 t of fish.

Around 90 units provide chilling storage facilities; they handle, on average, 25 000 t of fish and employ more than 2 000 people.

The processing of marine alga consists of the extraction of agar-agar. The three operational units employed 500 persons and produced an export output equal to DH 170 million. In 1997, this branch of the fish processing sector handled 5 500 t of raw materials and produced more than 1 000 t of agar -agar. However, there are some difficulties, despite the sector growing year by year, due to shortage of raw materials resulting from the large exports towards the principal producers of agar-agar, namely Japan, Spain and South Korea.

Finally, fish meal and the fish oil production comes from around 30 units, mainly based in Agadir, Tan-Tan and Laayoune. This industry employs around 1 000 people. In 1997, around 360 000 t were processed, for an output of almost 20 000 t of fish oil and 80 000 t of fish meal, mostly destined for the local aviculture sector. Of the total fish meal production, 96.5% is sold on the local market (both nationally and in the UMA market area, as noted elsewhere). The rest is exported.^[11]

In 1999, Morocco imported 16 749 t of fish products worth US$ 10 951 000. They consisted mainly of crustaceans and molluscs, not canned (43%) and of fresh, chilled and frozen fish (37%). In the same period, fish products originating in Morocco and destined for foreign countries were around 183 600 t for a value of US$ 775 000 000. The main export commodities were crustaceans and molluscs (52% in 1999) and canned fish (27% in 1999). Morocco has a dominant role, as exporter, among the countries of the North African Mediterranean area. Thus, in the period 1988-99, the trend of the average export prices of fish products of the five countries considered as a group clearly followed the trend of Moroccan export prices (Figure A5.1.2), confirming the leading role of this country in the export of fish products.

In 1999, but also in the whole decade analysed in this paper, Morocco was a net exporter of fish products. The trade balance of the fish sector had a surplus of 240 000 t (equal to US$ 764 000 000 - Table A1.11)

In utilization of fish and fishery products, in 1997, about 26%, mainly provided by national production, was destined for human consumption. The total food supply coming from fish products was equal to around 210 000 t (live weight), equating to an annual per capita consumption of 7.8 kg. Around 45% (357 285 t) of the total supply (internal production plus imports) was used for feed purpose, whereas around 240 000 t were destined for the foreign fish market - Table A1.12.

Figure A5.1.2 Export and import prices, Morocco, 1988-99.

Source: FAO, Fishstat 2001

2. Algeria

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General and demographic information^[12]

General economic data

The economy is based on the oil and hydrocarbon industry. Algeria ranks fifth in natural gas and fourteenth in oil reserves in the world. It is also the second largest gas exporter. Algeria’s industrial sector is dominated by state-owned heavy industries that produce steel, fertilizers, petrochemicals and cement (47% of the total GDP). The other natural resources are iron ore, phosphates, uranium, gold, mercury, lead and zinc. Due to desertification, the percentage of arable land in Algeria is very low. The agriculture sector covers a share of 12% in terms of total GDP. The main agricultural products are wheat, barley, oats, grape, oranges, olives, dates, tobacco, sugar beet and tomato. Livestock, farming and fishing are also significant components of the primary sector. In particular, the weight of fishing production is about 3.1% of the total production of the primary sector (Table A5.2.1). The annual growth rate of the fishing sector is lower than that of the agricultural sector: the fishing sector was 2.26%, whereas the agricultural production has been 5.5% (see Table A5.2.1).

Table A5.2.1 Annual evolution of the indexes of the agricultural and fishing sectors, Algeria, 1991-1999

SOURCE: Office National de Statistiques (ONS), Statistiques Algérie (http://www.ons.dz).

*ONS notes: Agricultural production does not include fishing production. Weights are calculated on the average value for the period 1986-1995.

Structure and characteristics of the fishing sector^[16]

The Algerian coastline is 1 000 km long. The shelf area is about 13 700 km² while the EEZ area is 137 200 km².

There are 25 fish-landing centres in Algeria, with 4 major ports in terms of fish landed, namely Ghazaouet, Annaba, Zemmouri and Mostaganem. In terms of landings, the west coast of Algeria is more important than the other regions, with about 50% of total capture landed, compared to 30% and 20% of marine captures landed, respectively, in the central and in the eastern areas of the country.^[17]

In 1995, the Algerian fishing fleet consisted of 2 184 vessels, totalling 27 898 GRT. Of them, 293 were trawlers (13 424 GRT), 615 purse-seiners (10 806 GRT) and 1 276 were other types (3 668 GRT). Most of them (983 vessels; 45% of the Algerian fleet) were artisanal vessels, with sizes in the 0 to 4.9 GRT range. Although trawlers were generally equipped for stern trawling, mid-water trawling for small pelagics had recently been introduced. The Algerian fishing fleet needs modernization. In fact, much of the fleet in the private sector was over 30 years old and supplies of fishing equipment and spare parts were scarce. Furthermore, the lack of a credit scheme for maritime operations has seriously hampered the revival of the marine fisheries industry.^[18]

The marine sector employed over 23 000 fishermen, of which about 2 500 were skippers and mechanics. The average crew of a trawler is 6-8, with 10-12 on a purse seiner, while traditional units operate with a crew of 2-3 fishermen.^[19]

In 1999, total capture of the Algerian fishing fleet was 105 696 t. Pelagic fishes (mostly sardines) were the most important portion of total landings. In 1999, they were about 84% of the total capture (88 855 t). Pelagic species are landed mainly by Algerian purse-seiners, called sardiniers; in 1998, pelagic fishes represented about 79% of total landings of sardiniers, while 18% and 3% of pelagic landings came, respectively, from trawlers and small-scale vessels. Demersal species generally represent 8-10% of total landings, with 75% of them landed by trawlers, 9% from sardiniers and 16% from the small-scale fishery sector. Finally, cephalopods and crustaceans represent only 4% of total landings (4 171 t in 1998), of which 90-95% is landed by trawlers and by small-scale vessels.

The yearly trend of total capture production from 1988 until 1999 (Figure A5.2.1) fluctuated between 80 000 and 135 000 t, with a minimum in 1991 (79 709 t) and a maximum in 1994 (135 410 t). This fluctuation reflects the instability of the pelagic species. As can be seen in the figure, total and pelagic production have a very similar trend, as pelagic fish landings play a crucial role in total landings for Algeria. Pelagic resources have population dynamics linked to environmental factors and they are very sensitive to climatic and ecological changes.

Figure A5.2.1 - Total and pelagic captures, Algeria, 1988-99.

Source: FAO Fishstat, 2001

Algeria has limited freshwater fishery sources, but considerable salt and brackish water lakes, covering almost 64 000 km². There are 11 rivers, with an area of 133 000 km² and 21 large dams. In 1999, production of freshwater fish (from capture and aquaculture combined) was 185 t (0.17% of total fish production). In 1999, aquaculture production was 250 t, of which 74% came from freshwater culture (all grass carp) and 26% from brackishwater culture (European eel, gilthead seabream, mullets and mussels).

Fishing-related sectors, namely canning, preserving and processing of fish, have a negligible role in the context of the entire food manufacturing sector. In 1996, there were only 8 enterprises involved in the canning, preserving and processing of fishing products, employing 2 614 people.^[20]

If compared to the countries covered in this paper as a group, in 1999, Algeria accounted only for 1% of total production of processed fish, primarily canning, accounting for 87% of the total processed fish output of Algeria.

In fish trade, in the last decade Algeria was a net importer. In 1999, the difference between exports and imports flows of fish products was -7 000 t, worth US$ 10 600 000 (Table A1.11). Imports were mainly fresh, chilled or frozen fish (72%), whereas fish products coming from abroad were crustacean and molluscs (accounting, together, for 52%) and canned fish (27%).

In 1997, the total fish food supply was about 104 000 t. Almost all (96%) came from internal production (marine and inland fisheries and aquaculture), while only a negligible share derived from imports flows. Also, exports have a marginal role. Nearly all the domestic supply is consumed fresh through domestic markets. The annual per capita consumption is around 3.5 kg, the lowest among the five countries under consideration (Table A1.12).

3. Tunisia

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General and demographic information^[21]

General economic data

Tunisia has a diversified economy, with agriculture, mining, energy (petroleum), tourism and manufacturing as important economic activities. Natural gas fields are being developed and promise to produce substantial quantities of natural gas in the near future. Some of the natural resources of the country are crude oil, phosphates, calcium, iron ore, lead, zinc and salt. Industrial plants such as textiles, paper pulp manufacture from esparto grass, steel milling, oil refining, automotive manufacturing and production of enriched phosphate fertilizers have been established in the country. Although a quarter of the working population is employed in agriculture, agricultural production is limited. Some of the main crops grown are wheat, barley, maize, sorghum, olives and dates. Tourism constitutes the largest source of foreign exchange earning.

Structure and characteristic of the fishing sector^[24]

The fishery sector of Tunisia represents, in terms of total production, a small part (6%) of the five north African countries analysed in this paper.

The Tunisian coastline is long, around 1 150 km with a shelf-area of around 80 000 km². Apart from the coastline, Tunisia has several small islands, and seven large lagoons covering an area of 1 052 km² (the lakes of Bizerte, Ichkeul, Tunis and Kheniss; the lagoons of Ghar El Melh, Bou-Ghrara and Bibans).

Tunisia has 30 ports and many other landing places.

The Tunisian fleet is divided into three principal groups: trawlers, sardiniers and coastal fisheries. In 1996, there were 374 trawlers operating in Tunisian waters, mainly concentrated in the southern area of the country, where trawlers represent 66% of the national fleet. Most of them were 400 hp or greater. The total number of sardiniers in 1996 was 349 units, with power sources ranging between 45 and 320 hp. Some of them are mixed trawler, moving on to trawling in season. It is estimated that, in 1996, there were 4 300 motorized coastal vessels and 7 585 unmotorized vessels.

Tunisian fishery is mainly marine fishery. Total fish production (capture and aquaculture) in 1999 was 93 186 t, almost all from marine capture. Marine fish were 80% of total fish production, with molluscs and crustaceans forming, respectively, 10.5% and 7.7%, followed by freshwater fishes (1.5%), diadromus fishes (0.2%) and aquatic animal products (<0.1%).

The most landed species are European pilchard (sardine) and sardinellas, accounting, in 1999, for 15% and 8% of total captures. Other important species for Tunisia’s fishery in 1999 were cuttlefishes, caramote prawns, bogue, jacks and mackerels. In 1996, 38% of captures were landed by small-scale vessels, 35% by the sardiniers and 21% by trawlers. Cephalopods and crustaceans (caramote prawns) are mainly export oriented; therefore they constitute a target species for many fishermen.

Marine aquaculture production is negligible. Some fish farms have been built in sea waters where breeding of sea bream, sea bass and grey mullet have been experimented. Freshwater culture is more important. In 1999, aquaculture production from inland waters was equal to 808 t (74% of the total aquaculture production). Inland waters are exploited either in the North than in the central area of the country. The most important freshwater species are zander, carp, barbel, roach, sheat-fish and black-bass. Catches are mainly made in winter and the production is distributed to the markets of Tunis and Sfax.

The most productive places are the southern ones. In fact, in terms of total fish production (captures and aquaculture), about an half of it comes from the south (Sfax, Gabés and Medenine) while the east and the north of the country provide, respectively, 28% and the 22% of the total. This is reflected also in the employment that the sector provides. Of the 64 000 fishermen (working in the small-scale fishery, on trawlers and in lagoons) around 60% is employed in the southern areas. The overall fishery population, including the related sectors, consists of around 100 000 people.

As for the fish processing sector, in 1999, Tunisian output of processed fish was equal to around 21 150 t, accounting for 6% of the overall production of the five countries covered in this report. The great bulk of processed fish is represented by canned fish, accounting, in 1999, for 57% of the total. The remainder is made up of crustaceans and molluscs.

Almost 108 establishments for canning, preserving and processing of fish are operational; 31 of them are based in the governorate of Sfax. The 46 freezing farms handle mainly crustaceans and cephalopods. They have a capability of 16 740 t for products storage at a temperature lower than -25ºC and of 540 t for freezing. Canning activity is limited to tunas and sardines, the most important species of Tunisian fishery. This latter industry consists of 20 units. The maximum capacity of these establishments is 140 t per day for sardines and 160 t for tuna. The very irregular supply of raw materials constitutes the principal constraint for this industry. There are 42 chilling storage facilities.

Concerning the exchange of fish products with foreign countries, Tunisia exports more than it imports from abroad. In 1999, the trade balance of the fishery sector was equal to a positive value of around 2 300 t, corresponding to about US$ 72 millions - Table A1.11. The principal exported fish commodities are crustaceans and molluscs, not canned (80% of total fish exports), whereas the most imported commodities are fresh, chilled and frozen fish.

Total fish supply destined to food was equal, in 1997, to around 99 000 t (live weight). It was almost totally provided by internal production. In the same year, the annual per capita consumption of fish and fish product in Tunisia was equivalent to 9 kg, the next-highest value after Egypt among the five countries considered in this report (Table A1.12). However, the apparently high consumption of seafood depends a lot on the influence of the tourism that is one of the leading sectors of Tunisia’s economy, constituting the largest source of foreign exchange earnings.

4. The Libyan Arab Jamahiriya

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General and demographic information^[25]

General economic data

The economy of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya is based on the exploitation of crude oil. The Libyan Arab Jamahiriya’s proven oil reserves represent almost half of Africa’s. The majority of electricity used is obtained from oil-fired power plants. Major mineral deposits of the country include iron ore, potassium, magnesium, sulphur and phosphate. There is also potential for extracting uranium. The agricultural sector in The Libyan Arab Jamahiriya has been developing, but the climatic conditions and irrigation problems limit the output. Main agricultural products are wheat, barley, olives, dates, vegetables, citrus fruits, and peanuts. Manufacturing activities are mostly limited to food processing. There is a significant potential for a fishing industry based on tuna, sardines and red mullet.

Structure and characteristic of the fishing sector^[29]

With a coastline of about 2 000 km and a shelf area of 50 000 km², the Libyan fishing sector is the least important, in terms of total fish production, among the North African Mediterranean countries. In fact, the estimated contribution of fisheries to agricultural GDP is fairly minor, at around 10%. In 1995, the gross value of fisheries output (at ex-vessel prices) was about LD 45.2 million (around US$ 69 million). The Libyan economy is dominated by the oil sector, and the entire agriculture sector only contributes an estimated 6% to total GDP.

The catch sector in the Jamahiriya has four main sectors: artisanal coastal fishing, lampara fishing, coastal trawling, and tonnara fishing^[30]. Sponge fishing, purse seining, tuna longlining, and distant-water fishing are minor. Most of the catch is taken by artisanal boats working with nets (trammel nets and gillnets) or hooks (longlines and handlines), and by the lampara fleet fishing for small pelagics. There were 1 866 artisanal fishing vessel registered in 2000 during the survey conducted by a FAO - COPEMED - MBRC team. Over half (55%) of the boats were found in the Tripoli area, with 23% in the Gulf of Sirt and 22% in Jabal Aghdar. Batah had a few boats (4%), they are mainly found in the Farwah lagoon in the Tripoli area. Flouka represent 61% of all fishing crafts with more than half in Tripoli region. Mator account for 28% and are roughly evenly distributed over the three regions. Lampara used to catch small pelagics represent 7% of the artisanal fleet, and are mainly located in the Tripoli region.

The industrial fishing fleet was composed of 93 units, most of which (63 units) were steel stern trawlers, whose size, in terms of tonnage, ranged from 150 to 250 GRT. The others were 30 trap setters, with an average size of less than 50 GRT. Lengths varied from 13 to 33 m LOA, and engine power from 165 to 950 hp.

Sponge harvesting was a major activity during the 1950s and 1960s, especially along the eastern part of the coast between Benghazi and Tubruk. After a period of drastic decline owing to disease outbreaks in the beds and the withdrawal of labour from the fishery, sponge harvesting is slowly beginning to pick up again.

Total captures, in 1999, amounted to 32 460 t, almost totally represented by marine fishes. The most landed species were, in 1999, redfishes, basses and congers, with 14 500 t, accounting for 45% of total captures. They were followed, in terms of quantity, by small pelagic fishes (anchovies and sardines), representing, in 1999, 22% of total catches (7 000 t) (see Table A5.4.1)

Libyan inland fisheries have not great importance in the overall context of the fishery sector. Free stocking (carp and some tilapia) was carried out in the past at Wadi Kaam (Khoms/Zliten area) and Wadi Mjinine (Tripoli area) reservoirs, and more recently carp have been stocked in Abou Dzira Lake near Benghazi. Results thus far do not indicate much potential for commercial production.

Aquaculture production derives only from freshwater culture. In 1999 the annual production was equal to 100 t, registering an increasing of 30% if compared with 1988 (30 t).

Table A5.4.1 Marine capture fisheries landings in 1999

Inland (freshwater) aquaculture has been attempted at several sites on a pilot basis over the past two decades. Minor cage culture of tilapia is carried out at Abou Dzira Lake. A project to raise tilapia and other species using waste irrigation water from an agricultural scheme at Brak El-Shati in the desert some 650 km south of Tripoli, was started in the late 1980s, but is now dormant.

In the last decade, some emphasis has been put on promoting mariculture. Pilot and trial stations have been established at Ain Kaam (near Khoms), Ain Ziana (near Benghazi), and Ain El Ghazala (near Tobruk). Work at Ain Kaam has involved brackishwater cage culture of mullet and red tilapia, and a shrimp hatchery. The lagoon at Ain Ghazala has been used for cage culture of sea bass, sea bream, mullet, and eels, and some cultivation of mussel has also been carried out on a trial basis.

In fish processing sector, in 1999, The Libyan Arab Jamahiriya had an output of 2 350 t, primarily (85%) canned fish. The other 15% was fish meal production (350 t, less than 1% of the fish meal production of all the five countries under consideration). The FAO Fishery Country Profile for The Libyan Arab Jamahiriya notes

“five fish canning plants belonging to The National Company for Fish Canning (NACACO) are based in Zuwara, Sabratah, Jansur, Khoms, and Benghazi. Apart from Benghazi, all the plants also produce fishmeal. According to official figures of Secretariat of Marine Wealth (SMW), production from NACACO operations in 1994 was 2 100 t of canned tuna and sardine valued at LD 8.4 million, and 330 t of fishmeal valued at LD 200 000. NACACO are building two new canning plants at Sabratah and Zletin, with a total installed capacity of 90 t/day (live weight) for tuna and sardine, and 75 t/day (live weight) for fishmeal. Smaller canning operations are run by private partnerships at Sabratah and Misurata”.

Consumption of canned fish is high if we take into account that, besides fish domestic processing, the greater part of fish imports is canned fish, accounting for 77% of the ca 3 800 t of fish products imported (US$ 12.6 millions). In 1999, fish products originating in The Libyan Arab Jamahiriya and going to foreign countries were 5 400 t, worth US$ 32 million. As a result, in 1999, the Libyan fish trade balance was positive, both in quantity and in value - Table A1.11. It is interesting to note this inversion in the trade balance. From 1988 to around 1992-93, imports were more than exports. Starting from the early 1990s, The Libyan Arab Jamahiriya showed a higher level of self sufficiency, with decreasing imports of fish products and a steady increase in exports of fish. This reflects the increase in internal processing capacity - Tables A1.1 - A1.10 - as an indirect effect of the UN embargo following the Lockerbie air disaster, attributed to The Libyan Arab Jamahiriya-supported terrorists. The embargo was lifted on 5 April 1999 (see Box 1 in main report).

Facilities for receiving and handling fish in The Libyan Arab Jamahiriya have improved considerably, especially over the late 1990s. Most major landing and marketing centres are now served by ice plants and cold and chill storage facilities, although up-keep and maintenance problems exist in some cases. A coastal survey during 1993-94 reported the following public and private fish handling and storage installations: 20 ice plants; 28 containerized cold stores or chillrooms; and 10 cold stores or freezing plants. Considerable efforts have also been made to improve distribution and marketing of fresh fish, including networks in the southern parts of the country, which in the past did not have ready access to fish products. Twelve chilled stores have been installed at settlements in the south, and 15 refrigerated trucks have been placed in service to haul fish products inland from coastal points. In addition, some 50 refrigerated vans equipped as mobile fish shops operate around the country. Nevertheless, most of the national population and most fish consumers live in the towns and cities along the coast, particularly Tripoli and Benghazi. Almost all of the domestic catch is sold fresh in these large urban market areas, though higher-value fish, such as groupers, large breams, red mullets and cephalopods, tend to enter the export market for distribution to Tunisia and Italy.

In 1997, total food supply of fish and fish products coming from domestic and foreign production, was about 38 000 t (live weight). In live weight terms, Libyan imports of fish products almost equalled exports. The great bulk (81%) of the domestic supply was for food use. Only a minimum part, 1 500 t, was destined for non-food uses. The annual per capita consumption in 1997 was 6 kg, the lowest, after Algeria, among the five North African Mediterranean countries - Table A1.12.

5. Egypt

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General and demographic information^[31]

General economic data

Egypt is one of the major producers of high-quality, long-staple cotton. Natural resources of the country include petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, manganese, limestone, gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead and zinc. The development of the hydrocarbon industry in Egypt has had a major impact on the economy. Natural gas production has been increasing in recent years. Domestic industry ranges from food processing, textiles, vehicle assembly, to aluminium and steel processing. Transport and tourism also play a major role. The services sector has a dominant role in the Egyptian economy, accounting for 50% of GDP. The main agricultural products of Egypt are cotton, rice, maize, wheat and beans. Husbandry (cattle, sheep) and fishing are also important activities.

Structure and characteristic of the fishing sector^[34]

The Egyptian coastline is 2 450 km long, and the shelf area to 200 m is 87 120 km².

In terms of total production (capture and aquaculture) the Egyptian fish sector is second only to the Moroccan one. The gross value of fisheries output at ex-vessel prices was, in 1995, around one-third of the GDP of the whole agricultural sector (US$ 9 000 million).

A wide variety of fishing vessels and gear are in use. In 1998, the registered fishing fleet consisted of 2 353 powered vessels and 33 375 boats propelled by sail. The majority of motorized boats operating in marine fisheries are equipped with 30-800 hp engines. Boats equipped with small engines use handlines and trawl nets. The marine fleet is composed of 1 355 trawlers, 135 purse seiners, 547 line fishing boats and 383 boats using other fishing gear, operating in the Mediterranean Sea; 234 trawlers, 83 purse seiners, 289 line fishing boats operate in the Gulf of Suez and the Red Sea. Non-motorized boats operate mainly in inland fisheries. Purse seining is generally conducted at night, using light attraction techniques. Nets are typically 200-250 m long and 60 m deep. The purse seiners usually have 20 to 30 crew members. There are some 200 000 licensed fishermen.^[35]

Fisheries production in Egypt comprises both sea fisheries and inland fisheries. Marine fisheries are based in the Mediterranean and in the Red Sea, and in 1999 they landed, respectively, 21% and 20% of the total capture production, whereas inland fisheries was the main source for the fishing industry, providing landings of 225 300 tonnes (59% of total captures).

In the Mediterranean Sea fisheries, the fishing grounds used by Egyptian vessels are located on the continental shelf offshore of the Nile Delta. In the past, this supported export-oriented fisheries for shrimp and demersal species, and for sardine for domestic consumption. This situation was abruptly altered by the construction of the Aswan High Dam, which has drastically reduced the flow of nutrients carried by the Nile to the sea. Recently, the situation has partially improved, probably as a result of greater discharges of enriched irrigation drainage water from the Nile Delta.

In 1988-1999, landings from the Mediterranean fluctuated between 35 000 t and 81 000 t, reaching a peak in 1999. More than 60% of the catch is landed at Damietta, Port Said and Alexandria. In 1999, Mediterranean landings were 63% pelagic species (sardines and anchovies mostly, at 41 000 t), while demersal fishes and crustaceans were, respectively, 21% and 13% of the total.

In the Red Sea, there are two main grounds: (i) the Gulf of Suez, which is a shallow gulf not more than 100 m deep with a nearly flat bottom; and (ii) the Red Sea coast, which extends from the southern part of the Gulf of Suez to the Egypt-Sudan border.

Landings from the Gulf of Suez and the Red Sea coast fluctuated between 1988 and 1999, from 28 450 t to 74 200 t, reaching a peak in 1999 (Figure A5.5.1).

More than half the catch is landed at El Attaka, in the Gulf of Suez.. Red Sea landings in 1999 comprised more than 30 commercial fish species. Sardines and anchovies were 7 500 t (10% of the catches) while 22% of the total Red Sea landings being redfishes, basses and congers. Tunas, bonitos and bill-fishes were 7 768 t (10%).

Figure A5.5.1 Marine and inland captures, by area of origin, Egypt, 1988-1999

The largest lake is Lake Nasser/Nubia, which is up to 180 m deep and covers an area of 6 216 km², 5 248 km² of which is in Egypt with the rest in the Sudan. In 1995, the Egyptian fisheries from Lake Nasser produced about 35 000 t of fish.

A large number of small vessels and many fixed nets are used to exploit fisheries in the Nile itself and in the littoral lagoons in the Delta. The largest of these lagoons is Lake Manzala. The five main lagoons cover a total surface area of about 2000 km².

There is one natural lake in Egypt, Lake Qarun, situated near the city of El Fayoum. Its annual yield is currently estimated at 703 t, but although Lake Qarun was originally a freshwater surface, it has gradually become saline. It is shallow and has been highly productive. Other depressions have been formed in Wadi Al Rayan.

Production in 1999 from inland waters was 225 300 t, of which 50% was tilapias and other cichlids (112 800 t). Jacks, mullets and sauries accounted for 8% (18 221 t).

Aquaculture has expanded considerably. Production reached 226 276 t in 1999 (versus 52 200 t in 1988). The great bulk of aquaculture production was made up by brackishwater culture, amounting, in 1999, to 190 265 t (84% of total aquaculture production). Aquaculture includes production from regular fish farm ponds, as well as from rice fields. Tilapia, carp and mullet are the main species produced; however, catfish, sea bream, sea bass and shrimp are produced in lesser quantities. The government is the main supplier of stocking material for freshwater ponds, producing 322 million fry in 1994-95, mostly carp, from nine hatcheries. Marine fish farming depends on wild fry collected and distributed exclusively by the government.^[36] Small-scale production of marine fish seed is currently taking place. Because of freshwater shortages, only hatcheries are allowed to use fresh water, and fish farms must depend completely on agricultural drainage water.

Fish processing facilities include units for freezing, canning and smoking fish. Canned sardines are sold locally or exported. In 1999, the Egyptian fish processing sector had an output of around 46 700 t, equal to 13% of the overall output of processed fish products of the five North African Mediterranean countries. Processed fish commodities are mostly fresh, chilled and frozen fish (78%); the remainder is dried, salted or smoked fish (10 000 t in 1999).

The high per capita consumption of fish products (10.2 kg in 1997 - Table A1.12) makes Egypt a net importer in the seafood sector. In 1999 (and for the whole period 1988-1999), Egypt had the greatest negative fish trade balance, both by quantity and by value. The high level of imports, amounting in 1999 to 245 600 t (87% of total imports of fish products of the five countries) can in part be explained by the leading role of tourism in local food consumption. The dominant role, as importer, among the five countries is confirmed by the evolution of average import prices. In the period 1988-1999, the trend of the average import prices of fish products of the five countries (considered as a group) follows, undoubtedly, the trend of Egyptian import prices (figure 5.2).

Figure A5.5.2 Import and export prices, Egypt, 1988-1999

In 1997, the total supply of fish, all destined for domestic use as food, was about 650 000 t (live weight). Around 35% of it was provided by imports (Egypt is the main importer among the five North African Mediterranean countries). Fish is a traditional and important component of the Egyptian diet, providing 18% of animal protein. Such a high consumption of seafood is explained by the strong influence of tourism rather than by demographic level. In fact, with an annual per capita consumption of 10 kg, Egyptians are nominally the greatest consumers of fish among the five North African countries.