Every day, thousands of fishers land their catches along Egypt's extensive Mediterranean coastline, generating valuable information that can help shape the sustainable future of the country's fisheries. Yet collecting this information consistently across such a vast area has been a significant challenge.

Now, Egypt’s Lakes and Fish Resources Protection and Development Agency (LFRPDA) is piloting a solution that will bring data collection directly to the ports where fishing activities take place. Last month, four prefabricated office units were strategically installed at selected fishing ports across the coastline. These compact but fully functional units will serve as dedicated workspaces for fisheries data collectors, providing a permanent on-site base from which biological, socioeconomic and fisheries-related information can be gathered more efficiently. Equipped with basic laboratory facilities, the solar-powered offices are designed to support a wide range of activities, from recording catch and effort data to monitoring discards and collecting information on vulnerable species.

For a country as geographically extensive as Egypt, proximity matters. By positioning data collectors closer to fishing communities and landing sites, the initiative is expected to improve both the quantity and quality of information collected. The offices are also expected to reduce logistical challenges associated with transporting samples and coordinating field operations, while fostering stronger day-to-day engagement between fisheries experts, fishers and other stakeholders. The integration of administrative functions will further contribute to operational efficiency and better organization of field activities.

The pilot initiative is supported by the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in partnership with FAO Egypt, with funding from the European Union.

The pilot is conducted under the framework of the GFCM MedSea4Fish capacity development programme. MedSea4Fish provides resources, training and technical assistance to support GFCM countries in accessing the latest data and information, best practices, tools and technologies to strengthen scientific advice for improved fisheries management. The initiative reflects a broader objective of MedSea4Fish: strengthening national capacities through practical, cost-effective solutions tailored to local realities. Rather than relying exclusively on centralized systems, the new port offices create a network of local outposts that can respond directly to operational needs in the field.

Beyond their immediate benefits, the four office units will serve as a testing ground for a model that could be scaled up in the future. The experience gained will help assess the feasibility, effectiveness and scalability of port-based data collection infrastructure, potentially offering a replicable approach for other fisheries monitoring initiatives in the region.

By investing in the places where fisheries data originates, Egypt is taking an important step towards building a more robust, efficient and responsive fisheries information system that supports both stronger scientific advice and the sustainable use and management of fisheries resources.