by
STEFANO CATAUDELLA
NICOLA RUCCI
PREMISES
Following the two identification missions (of. Ph. FERLIN, report MEDRAP TR / 83 / 5) (Report MEDRAP mission in Egypt, 5 / 85, the RASWA fish farm has been selected as the most suitable site for the development of the MEDRAP pilot project in Egypt, in agreement with the Egyptian authorities. This document forsees that such a project should include the technical elements and installations necessary for the realization of the project.
Egyptian coastal and marine aquaculture has some peculiarities within the entire Mediterranean Region. In the country, the responsibles of the sector have stressed, time and time again, the need of a marine and coastal aquaculture that would contribute in a direct way to the great food lack in the country.
For Egyptian aquaculture, absolute priority should be given to those species which make full use of the natural resources, such as Mugilidae, Sparidae, Shrimps and some Ciclidae, employing polyculture strategies together with the development of aquaculture carried out in the wide marginal area of the delta zone and sometimes in lagoon surface areas, confined in the appropriate way. This approach is also due to the fact that Egyptian aquaculture dates back to early tradition.
This type of aquaculture differs slightly from the methods employed in other Mediterranean countries, whose principal aim is after the production of very expensive species and eventually exportation. This priority doesn't however exclude species that could be reared while using intensive methods, such as sea-bass.
Within the MEDRAP project activities, a contribution is also foreseen for the priorities that are of interest for Egyptian marine and brackish water aquaculture, in accordance with the reasons given here following:
- The RASWA fish farm is very central to lake Manzala a wide area of development of Egyptian Mediterranean aquaculture, and so the activities to be carried out there could have a great influence or other similar productive schemes, which operate already or are scheduled.
- The RASWA fish farm, having as production aim the culture of species which make good use of the substratum through fertilization. Mullet fry is captured in the wild and placed into ponds built in marginal areas, which are unsuitable for agricultural development. This farm has all the necessary requirements for the development that the Egyptian administration would like to apply.
- The productive methods employed at the RASWA fish farm need improvement, especially concerning manure, environmental control, fry capture, transport and handling. In this sense, the MEDRAP project can contribute to the resolution of some of these handicaps, and this would be the principal aim of the pilot project.
- The RASWA fish farm has some surface areas and buildings which are suitable for the implantation of the pilot project and which could be adopted to the appropriate requirements of the pilot project.
The aim of the MEDRAP pilot project in Egypt is to build a certain number of structures within the RASWA fish farm (Port Said) which will permit the improvement of some productive techniques which are at present applied there.
These activities are as following:
- The capture of fry and juveniles of euryhaline Mediterranean species: mullet, sea-bass, sea-bream, etc…
- the transport of fry, employing suitable equipment and techniques.
- Fry selection, carried out on capture and in the fish farm.
- The placing of fry directly into ponds or nursery ponds.
- The rearing of juveniles, feed, prophylaxis, capture methods.
- Following a first rearing, the animal is placed into fertilized ponds, where where polyculture is employed, principally mullet/sea-bream.
These techniques appear to be the first priority not only for the development of RASWA fish farm production, but also more generally for the Egyptian aquaculture.
There is a greater demand of wild fry in Egypt as aquaculture develops. It is evident that the principal aim of Mediterranean aquaculture is the development of the artificial reproduction, through which important quantities of seed could be obtained while different rearing techniques could be employed. At present, taking into consideration species which are of interest for Mediterranean aquaculture, the production techniques employed for the seed are as following:
| - Peneid shrimps | : Mass production of post-larvae |
| - Sea-bass | : Large scale production of fry |
| - Sea-bream | : Results are still uncertain |
| - Mullet | : Very limited quantities not meeting the demand. |
The most renown system employed in Egyptian aquaculture is the capture of wild fry and so such a resource should be well guarded especially by increasing the survival rate.
Following the mission carried out, it would seem important to intervene by employing suitable equipment and techniques for capture, selection, transport and first rearing. The description of the RASWA fish farm and fry capture is given in S. SADEK - 1984 - Theses.
The list of the technical equipment is given in ANNEX 1. The equipment is as following:
- An open green house permitting air circulation in summertime, which shelters six round tanks of 2, 5 m in diameter each and a free surface area for the preparation of food for juveniles: a grinder and mixer.
The selection and fry stocking shall take place when transported here.
The use of products of different origin will also be tested when preparing diets for first rearing.
This structure shall also comprehend six raceways employed for stocking purposes after capture, the acclimatization of sea-bream and feeding experiments. This sector could receive a brackish water supply from surface aquifer and this water would be filtered mechanically.
- A 1 350 m2 earth pond being employed for polyculture and eutrophication experiments.
- A series of 4 earth ponds (400 m2) to stock the fry of euryhaline species, at high densities with good survial rates.
Along with production some controlled activities could be carried out on parallel and could be transferred directly.
This could permit new activities such as shrimp rearing (Lumare report MEDRAP 1985) although the effects of the different salinity levels at RASWA must be checked before hand.
The programme schedules making use of a free 5 roomed house located in the centre of RASWA, as a base of MEFDRAP experts and laboratory.
MEDRAP's contribution to the pilot includes technical assistance, the fournishing of equipment such as a lorry for the transport of fry, pumps, generator, green house, raceways, round ponds, fishing nets, experimental artificial food and didactic material for the diffusion of techniques.
The contribution on behalf of the Egyptian government concerns the excavation and concrete works and the experimental well, and the assignment of one worker and two technicians from the RASWA staff to the pilot project, timetables and modalities have yet to be defined.
The pilot centre work schedule will be defined by MEDRAP in cooperation with Egyptian Government and the direction of the RASWA fish farm.
The project should start in February 1986, works are due to begin in October 1985.
The project involves:
The creation of a nursery stock after the selection of young fish from natural environments which are then acclimatized.
A section for initial weaning.
Four ponds of 400 m3, and one of 1 350 m3 for rearing purposes.
A pumping station having a capacity of 100 1/sec.
Pipes and equipment for the distribution of air and water.
A canal ensuring the hydraulic supply of the existing tanks.
A drain canal for the feeding tanks.
The project schedules employing one hectare of a pond which has around seven hectares of total surface area.
The works for competition are as following:
About 1 600 m2 of embankment for the construction of the hatchery.
400 linear meters of embankment forming the border of the rearing ponds.
Pumping station of about 25 m2 in surface area.
Water inlets and outlets
A drain canal of tanks.
A nursery comprehending six fibreglass tanks of 2 500 mm Ø.
A covering for the green house of about 180 m2.
Six fibreglass weaning tanks of 4,50 × 1,00 × 1,00 m.
Protection for the rearing section against birds of prey.
- In addition to the above, the following machines are necessary.
A pump of 20 1/sec. in capacity.
A pump of 80 1/sec. in capacity.
A generator (diesel motor)
A machine having a capacity of 200 liters for meal.
Grinder
A truck to transport young fish and fitted with fibreglass tanks of 1 200 mm Ø
Fishing equipment; nets buchets, small tanks.
Specific Substructures :
Electric Wires
Transformer cupboard
Embankment of about 1 600 m2 bringing it to level with the existing dyke of 1,50 in height, the soil is obtained from quarry excavations and layered in very compact depths of 0,50 m, it is sloped at the edges so as to avoid slides.
400 meters of embankment bordering the rearing ponds and canals, the soil is obtained from quarry excavation and layered in very compact depths of 0,50 m having a 3/2 slope at the edges.
The bottomof the tanks should be very compact, having a sufficient slope for drainage purposes, extra embankment is required for this.
The construction of concrete wells permitting the outflow, to which 3 lead out pipelines, the grill and overflow gate and a pipe for drainage purposes are connected. A small concrete platform is to be built in front of the well, 20 cm below the bottom of the tank.
Canals
An inflow canal for the existing tank is scheduled. This canal receive the overflow from the pumping station, nursery weaning and rearing ponds; a direct drainage canal from the rearing ponds will permit to by-pass the existing tanks for the complete drainage of the ponds.
Pumping station
The pumping station is to be located in front of the existing well and inflow canal of the existing pond. It shall be built in concrete, the wall facing the well will have an opening which be fitted with a slince gate and overflow gate.
Distribution
The pipelines, in high density polyethylene (H.D.P.E.) will be underground, they shall run from the pumping tank and give the water supply to the nursery, the weaning unit and the feeding units.
Nursery
A concrete platform having a small central channel and wells permitting the outflow from the tanks, are to be built. Fibre glass tanks will be placed on top of the platform. The entire area shall have a green house covering. This green house shall be made in zinc-plated iron, and attached to the platform.
Weaning section
As for the nursery this part will also have a concrete platform on which stand the rectangular fibre glass tanks of 4,50 × 1,00 × 1,00 m in dimension. There shall also be a small canal for the outflow. This platform is of sufficient size to allow a green house covering.
Protection against birds of prey
The rearing tanks shall be protected against birds of prey by means of cement pales to which nylon ropes in a criss-cross position will be attached (so forming a grill) a nylon net of 10 – 15 cm mesh will act as cover for the top.
Electric cupboard
The station will be in prefabricated cement which will shelter the transformer and the general installations.
This area should also comprehend:
- a pump of 20 1/sec. in capacity to ensure the water supply for the nursery and weaning unit.
- a pump of 20 1/sec. in capacity for the rearing section.
- 2 air-compressors of 200 m3/h in capacity for the aeration of the nursery and weaning section.
- A 4 ton truck fitted with fibre glass tanks of 1 200 mm in diameter and 120 m in height, and tanks containing liquid oxygen when transporting young fish between capture sites and rearing ponds.
Nets of different mesh sizes, buckets, small tanks and a collecting net will also be required.
The machinery and tools include the following :
- A 50 kw generator for emergencies when there are power cuts.
- A grinder for crude products which are used in the make-up of the diets for the weaning and rearing section.
- A machine having a 200 liter capacity for meal, which is added to the ground products mentioned above for the production of feed.
Items underlined will be provided by MEDRAP
| Price/Unit US dollars | Total price US dollars | |||
| I - Pumping Station | ||||
| 1) | Concrete with 250 kg of cement for the foundation | |||
| cu. meter: 14.56 | 46 | 670 | ||
| 2) | Concrete with 300 kg of cement fot the upper part | |||
| cu. meter: 26.16 | 64 | 1 675 | ||
| 3) | Iron renforcement | |||
| kg. : 2 850 | 0.5 | 1 425 | ||
| Total | 3 770 | |||
| II - Hatchery | ||||
| 1) | Concrete with 250 kg of cement for the foundation | |||
| cu. meter: 49.50 | 46 | 2 277 | ||
| 2) | Concrete with 300 kg of cement for the upper part | |||
| cu. meter: 5.48 | 64 | 351 | ||
| 3) | Iron renforcement 25 kg/m3 | |||
| kg. : 1 374 | 0.5 | 687 | ||
| 4) | Glasshouse of agricultural type built with zinc plated iron tubes, P V C long life shelding and net shade | |||
| m2 : 180 | 20 | 3 600 | ||
| 5) | Zinc plated iron grill covering the outflow pipelines | |||
| m2 : 20.22 | 41 | 829 | ||
| 6) | Asbestos cement outflow pipeline 500 mm in diameter | |||
| m : 10 | 20 | 200 | ||
| 7) | High density polyethylene supply pipeline (H D P E) 110 MM in diameter | |||
| m : 50 | 13 | 650 | ||
| 8) | P.V.C lead out pipelines 0 with slince-gate | |||
| m : 10 | 26 | 260 | ||
| 9) | Fibreglass tanks of 2 500 mm in diameter, with zinc plated iron supports having à fibreglass covering, outflow pipe-line and grill | |||
| number : 6 | 1 275 | 7 650 | ||
| 10) | Oxygenation network system make of H D P E pipeline 40 mm in diameter with lead out pipelines, slince-gates, junctions, diffusers ; estimated at : | |||
| Unit : | 510 | 510 | ||
| 11) | Electric network system including fittings, cable laying, butiltinax cables, channels, wires, switches waterlight, switch cupboard ; estimated at : | |||
| Unit : | 255 | 255 | ||
| 12) | 2 air blowers 200 m3/hour capacity comprehending a switch cupboarded and a power supply ; estimates at : | |||
| Whole : | 3 560 | 3 560 | ||
| 13) | Pump for the water supply of the hatchery having a capacity of 20 l/sec. | |||
| Unit : | 2 545 | 2 545 | ||
| Total Hatchery | 23 374 | |||
| From MEDRAP : 17 865 | ||||
| III - Rearing unit | ||||
| 1) | Concrete with 250 kg of cement for the foundation | |||
| cu. meter : 27.75 | 46 | 1 277 | ||
| 2) | Concrete with 350 kg of cement for the upper part. | |||
| cu. meter: 3.60 | 64 | 230 | ||
| 3) | Iron reinforcement 25 kg/m3 | |||
| kg : 708 | 0.5 | 354 | ||
| 4) | Zinc plated iron grill covering the outflow pipelines | |||
| m2 : 10.80 | 41 | 443 | ||
| 5) | Asbestos cement outflow pipelines 300 mm Ø | |||
| m : 10 | 15 | 150 | ||
| 6) | High density polyethylene supply pipeline (H.D.P.E) of 110 mm Ø | |||
| m : 40 | 13 | 520 | ||
| 7) | P.V.C lead out pipelines 60 Ø with slince-gate | |||
| m : 10 | 26 | 260 | ||
| 8) | Fibreglass tanks of 4.50 × 1.00 × 1.00 m in dimension, having zinc plated iron supports with fibreglass covering, outflow pipeline and grill | |||
| number : 6 | 1 272 | 7 632 | ||
| 9) | Oxygenation network system made of H.D.P.E pipeline, 40 mm Ø having lead out pipelines, slince gates, junctions, diffusters ; estimated at: | |||
| Unit : | 510 | 510 | ||
| Total Rearing Unit | 11 376 | |||
| From MEDRAP : 8 142 | ||||
| IV - Commercial production unit | ||||
| 1) | Embankment work for the construction of the hatchery, rearing unit, pre-fattening tanks, channels employing soil excavated on site or from lad quarries. This cost price comprehends the embankment of the Soil in layers of 0.50 maters, ground stabilization and all the necessary works which the project entails | |||
| cu. meters : 7 614.18 | 2.55 | 19 416 | ||
| 2) | Excavation works with fixed sections ensuring a slope for the outflow channel | |||
| cu. meters : 2.28 | 1 | 21 | ||
| 3) | Wells permitting water inflow and outflow of the tanks | |||
| number : 7 | 254 | 1 778 | ||
| 4) | Water inflow and outflow pipelines 300 mm Ø of the asbestos cement tank | |||
| m : 56 | 15 | 840 | ||
| 5) | P.V.C inflow pipeline network system 200 mm Ø having special parts and lead outs | |||
| m :105 | 10 | 1 050 | ||
| 6) | Collectors, in concrete with 250 kg. of cement at the bottom of the tanks | |||
| cu. meters : 4 | 46 | 184 | ||
| 7) | An outflow channel, partially covered joining up with the main outflow channel having blocks, bulkheads and syphons ; estimated at: | |||
| unit : | 2 543 | 2 543 | ||
| 8) | Inox stainless steel grills with frames | |||
| m2 : 12 | 76 | 912 | ||
| 9) | Protective system against birds of prey; cement posts, 10 × 10 cm mesh nets, nylon ropes | |||
| m2 : 3 200 | 0.5 | 1 600 | ||
| 10) | Water intake pumping system for pre-fattening unit, capacity 8 c1/sec. having a switch cupboard | |||
| unit : | 5 100 | 5 100 | ||
| Total production Unit | 33 444 | |||
| From MEDRAP : 7 612 | ||||
| V - Specific substructure works | ||||
| 1) | Generator, capacity 50 kw | |||
| Unit : | 10 175 | 10 175 | ||
| 2) | Electric supply | |||
| Estimation | 5 100 | 5 100 | ||
| 3) | Transformer station having a box poles, transformer, main switch cupboard, estimated at: | |||
| Unit : | 7 630 | 7 630 | ||
| Total Substructure works | 22 905 | |||
| From MEDRAP : 10 175 | ||||
| VI - Machinery and Equipment | ||||
| 1) | Mixer capacity 100 liters | |||
| Unit : | 765 | 765 | ||
| 2) | Koruma grinder | |||
| Unit : | 6 105 | 6 105 | ||
| 3) | Truck for transport of live fish having 2 fibreglass tank 1 200 mm in diameter each, with on oxygenete system | |||
| Unit : | 20 345 | 20 345 | ||
| 4) | Different equipment employed for fry fishing | |||
| Estimation : | 1 000 | 1 000 | ||
| Total Equipment | 28 215 | |||
| From MEDRAP : 28 215 | ||||
| 1. | Approval of the proposed project | 09/85 – 10/85 |
| 2. | Assistance to the implementation and detailed evaluation mission | 11/85 – 12/85 |
| 3. | Earth-moving and constructions | 11/85 – 12/85 |
| 4. | Delivery of equipements and initiation of the operations | 12/85 – 01/86 |
| 5. | Fish fry collection | 11/85 – 05/86 |
| 6. | Fish fry rearing | 12/85 – 08/86 |
| 7. | Artificial shrimp breeding | 03/86 – 05/86 |
| 8. | Shrimp post-larvae collection and rearing | 04/86 – 05/86 |
| 9. | Shrimp rearing | 05/86 – 11/86 |
| 10. | Fish rearing operations (polyculture) | 04/86 – 12/86 |
| a) | Personnel | nb/m | ||||
| - | Coordonnateur du projet | - | Project coordinator | 1 | ||
| - | Expert Crevettes | - | Shrimp expert | 2 | ||
| - | Expert écloserie | - | Hatchery expert | 2 | ||
| - | Consultants: | |||||
| - | Aquaculture semi-intensive | - | Semi-intensive Aquaculture | 1 | ||
| - | Alevinage | - | Fry collection and rearing | 4 | ||
| - | Ingéniérie | - | Civil engineering | 2 | ||
| - | Alimentation | - | Feed production | 0,5 | ||
| - | Crevettes | - | Shrimps | 0,5 | ||
| b) | Sous-Contrats | Sub-contracts | US$ | |||
| - | Construction des serres de l'écloserie et de l'unité de pré-grossisment | - Participation to the construction of the green-house, the hatchery and the rearing unit | 25 000 | |||
| c) | Equipement | 50 000 | ||||
| d) | Formation (Stages de Policoro, sessions MEDRAP | - Training (Policoro courses, MEDRAP SESSIONS) | p.m | |||
