LOCATION AND MAIN LANDING PLACES

Jordan is almost entirely land-locked and only has a small (27 km) marine coast to the Red Sea, centered on the port of Aqabah. All marine landings in Jordan are made into this port.

FISHERIES POLICIES AND PLANS

The main objective of Jordan's fishery policy is to protect the marine environment of the Red Sea area (particularly the coral reef areas), which is an important component of Jordan's tourist industry. This overall marine protection policy includes ensuring the sustainable productivity of local fish stocks, both commercial and non-commercial.

Since shipping traffic in the northern Gulf of Aqabah is projected to double during the next decade due in part to the economic growth associated with dramatic increases in population over the last 20 years, environmental pressure on the marine coral reefs and resources will increase, particularly in the cities of Aqabah and Eilat.

OVERALL STRATEGIES

The overall development objectives of the government for the marine environment, including the fisheries sector are:

MANAGEMENT MEASURES IN USE

Input controls are limited to closed areas and the prohibition of destructive fishing practices, particularly in coral reef areas. There are no output controls on Jordan's fisheries.

Because of the regional distribution of many of the key species taken by the commercial fishery in Jordan, independent management of the stocks of fish in Jordan's waters is difficult.

Some regional co-operation in fisheries and marine environmental management is achieved through various multi-lateral programs such as the Comprehensive Fisheries-Ecosystem (CoFE) Management Program of the Red Sea Marine Peace Park Co-operative Research, Monitoring and Management Program (RSMMP Program).

The CoFE program is designed to focus on bi-national management (between Jordan and Israel) of the trans-boundary fisheries to relieve current pressures on fragile coral reef fisheries by transferring sustainable commercial fisheries into deeper waters. It is envisaged that the establishment of a volunteer monitoring program will enhance environmentally friendly private enterprise and empowering local community and environmental NGOs in regional decision-making (as it relates to marine resource protection).

There is a growing and presently uncontrolled recreational fishing sector that is in direct competition with commercial fishermen.

INVESTMENT IN FISHERIES

Within the artisanal sector, Jordanian nationals individually own and operate most vessels. There is no industrial fishery and no significant fish processing capabilities in Jordan.

Aquaculture development has been undertaken with financial and technical assistance from foreign donors and corporations. No data are available on the value of such assistance.

PROJECTION OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND

Jordan's fish demand is currently satisfied almost entirely by imports, which, in 2001, contributed over 98% of fish supply to Jordan.

The limited development prospects for the industry will result in little change to this situation in the foreseeable future.

Imports have risen strongly to supply local demand, more than doubling in the period 1994-2001 from 11,400t to 23,200t. Exports are negligible.

As the aquaculture industry has developed since 1997, there has been a small increase in total local supply from around 640t in 1996 to 1060t in 2001 with 51% of 2001 supply coming from aquaculture. However, this has not been sufficient to satisfy increasing local demand.

MAIN FISHERIES REGULATIONS

There is no specific fisheries law governing fisheries activities in Jordan. Regulation of fisheries in Jordan is based on various environmental legislation (such as the By-Law for the Protection of Coasts and Marine Water), which is administered by Jordan's environmental agency.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE NATIONAL FISHERIES AUTHORITY

A number of agencies have input into the management and control of fisheries in Jordan. These include the Ministry of Agriculture, which is responsible for basic policy, extension services and data collection, the General Corporation for Environmental Protection of the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and the Environment and the Jordan Valley Authority, which promotes aquaculture development and water use in its area of responsibility. Co-ordination between these authorities in fisheries matters is more informal than through any formal co-ordination structures.