1. INTRODUCTION
The Syrian coastline is about 183 km in length. There are no lagoons, no estuaries, no closed bays. Most coastal rivers are short (less than 50 km) and seasonal. The main river is separated from the Syrian coast by mountains and is thrown back to Turkey.
The Syrian Fishery is composed of three elements: coastal sea fisheries, inland fisheries and fish farms. Fishing along the narrow coast strip dates from ancient time and during the last 10–15 years, production has been relatively stable, around 1 000 t/year. Inland fisheries also dates from ancient times but production was limited until the late 1970's. With the implementation of lake Assad and other dams, creating large freshwater ares, production has greatly increased from 250 t in 1970 to more than 2 000 t in 1983 (MEDRAP. FD/85/01). The main catches come from lake Assad and Qattinem. Fish farming is recent, dating from 1964. There are two types of farms: warm-water farms producing carps and tilapias and trout farms.
2. CURRENT STATE OF AQUACULTURE
2.1 Freshwater aquaculture
Modern fish farming began in 1964 with the construction of the complex at Ain Taga. As the new venture, it was not modest, for it comprised hatching, holding and rearing ponds in excess of 42 ha. Since then, Government - originally through the Ministry of Agriculture and since 1976 the G.E.F. (General Establishment of Fisheries) - established other farms. At present G.E.F. has ten plants of which nine are warm fish farms (two producing trout and seven carp and tilapia) and one producing carp with floating net cages. They cover a total surface of about 300 ha of which almost 250 ha of water. Cage culture in lake Assad was introduced by G.E.F. with the technical assistance of Federal Republic of Germany. There are 106 cages (TCP/SYR/0103) and fish production has proved satisfactory. The freshwater farm production was 1 306 tons in 1983 of which 995 produced in G.E.F. farms (MEDRAP - FD/85/01).
The private sector began aquaculture and, although no accurate record exists, it is believed that there are 40 farms of various sizes (but probably not bigger than 4 ha) and degrees of efficiency in the western part of the country, particularly in Hama district. They produce principally carps.
2.2 Marine aquaculture
No marine aquaculture farms exist in Syria. Around 1975 the University of Latakia inaugurated a six-storey marine station in Latakia. Scientific equipment was donated by USAID, but this has not yet been installed. The station has not started to function due tot he budgetary problems and lack of specialized personnel (TCP/SYR/0103).
2.3 Professional and technical staff
The G.E.F. has a staff of 15–20 aquaculturists, all of which are employed in freshwater fish farms. During the 1970's these aquaculturists were sent to USSR or East Germany and trained in trout culture or carp culture. There is no training in aquaculture in Syria and none of the trainees had any previous experience before they were sent abroad.
3. PROGRAMME
The Government has now granted a high priority to the increase of fish production, mostly for inland waters. This development will take place over the next five year plan period. The project concerns marine and inland fisheries and freshwater and marine aquaculture. Concerning freshwater aquaculture, the project includes :
- improvement of general fish farming management;
- improvement of seed production;
- development of polyculture, especially by introduction of mullet and Tilapia nilotica;
- improvement of fish-feed production, especially for fry and fingerlings;
- development of preserving, processing and marketing services owing to the increase in production;
- development of marine fish farming.
4. PRODUCTION
The total fish production from aquaculture in Syria in 1981 was 982 t (TCP/SYR/0103) corresponding to 23% of the total capture fisheries (4 282 t0 and to 29% of total freshwater fishery (3 359 t).
In 1983, total production from aquaculture was 1 306 t (MEDRAP - FD/85/01) of which 995 t were produced in G.E.F. farms.
The G.E.F. justifies the increase as due to improved technology.
5. MARKETING
Total domestic catches (including aquaculture production) were 5 000 t (FAO, Yearbook of Fishery Statistics) of which about 1 000 t from marine fisheries. Imports in 1985 were 6 214 t (FAO, Yearbook of Fisheries Statistics) mainly represented by fishmeals and similar animal feedingstuffs (3 000 t) and by fish products and preparations (3 214 t) (FAO, Yearbook of Fishery Statistics).
Fresh marine fish is only marketed in coastal regions and, at a lower level, in Damascus; this is because of the limited production and the method of preservation are often inefficient in small towns or villages.
The distribution chain of fresh or frozen fish is short; there are no wholesale markets and import middlemen have been eliminated since 1981 with the decision to allow import licences to the General Establishment of Consumption (TCP/SYR/0103).
6. INSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT
There is no institution in Syria giving assistance to small scale fisheries nor are there any fishery research or monitoring of fishery activities. There are two governmental bodies charged with matters related to marine fisheries: the Department of Fisheries and the General Establishment of Fisheries. Coordination of activities of both institutions is assured by a committee of their representatives.
6.1 Department of Fisheries
It is part of the General Directorate of Ports within the Ministry of Transport. The Department was created in 1960 and it is based at Latakia.
The functions of the department are: to award annual licences to fishermen and fishing boats, to collect and compile landing statistics, to draft and implement fisheries regulations and control pollution.
6.2 The General Establishment of Fisheries (GEF)
The G.E.F., with headquarters in Jeble, was created in 1974 as part of the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reform. It is generally agreed that the main responsabilities of the G.E.F. are:
- to promote the development of a fishing industry through its own production means and these of fishermen's cooperatives;
- to monitor the progress of such industry;
- to conduct applied research in aquaculture;
- to provide extension services to fishermen;
- to propose new fishing rules or changes to present regulations.
In order to reach its various objectives, G.E.F. has six Directorates )TCP/SYR/0103).
REFERENCES
MEDRAP - FD/85/01. Lattaquie, Syria, Projet pilot d'aquaculture. Main 1985.
TCP/SYR/0103 - Marine Aquaculture Development in Syria. July 1982.
FAO, Yearbook of fishery statistics. Vol. 60–61.
