1. GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE
Djibouti, with a surface area of 21 980 km2, consists largely of volcanic plateau and desert. The climate is hot and dry. Djibouti is an important shipping port. There is some agriculture (coffee, livestock) but the soil is generally arid and unproductive.
2. HYDROLOGY
2.1 Lakes
There are two medium-sized lakes: Asal and Abbe.
2.2 Rivers, Floodplains and Swamps
None. Discharge to Lake Abbe is from Ethiopia and to Lake Asal from small mountain streams and gullies.
2.3 Reservoirs
None.
2.4 Coastal Lagoons
There is one medium-sized lagoon: Ghoubet Kharab.
2.5 Aquaculture
There is no aquaculture in Djibouti (Vincke, 1989, pers.comm.).
3. FISHERY PRODUCTION/POTENTIAL
3.1 Fish production and per caput supply (see Table 1, p.30)
3.2 Inland catch range and potential yield
No data available for Lakes Abbe and Asal, and Ghoubet Kharab Lagoon.
4. STATE OF THE FISHERY
4.1 Yield
Although no information is available, it may be assumed that a fishery exists at least on Ghoubet Kharab Lagoon. That catch, if any, could have been included in the marine production data.
4.2 Factors influencing yield
No significant freshwater waterbody. Active marine fishery.
4.3 Future development possibilities
No inland fishery development can be expected in Djibouti except, possibly, from the Ghoubet Kharab Lagoon.
Table 1. FISH PRODUCTION AND PER CAPUT SUPPLY - Djibouti, 1970–1987
Nominal Production (excluding exports) (t) 2 | Nominal Consumer Supply (exclud. imports & exports) (kg/person) | ||||||
Year | Population '000 1 | No inland capture | Aquaculture 3 | Marine capture | Total | Marine capture | Total |
1970 | 160 | 300 | 300 | 1.9 | 1.9 | ||
1971 | 170 | 300 | 300 | 1.8 | 1.8 | ||
1972 | 180 | 100 | 100 | 0.6 | 0.6 | ||
1973 | 190 | 200 | 200 | 1.1 | 1.1 | ||
1974 | 201 | 380 | 380 | 1.9 | 1.9 | ||
1975 | 214 | 800 | 800 | 3.7 | 3.7 | ||
1976 | 232 | 1 200 | 1 200 | 5.2 | 5.2 | ||
1977 | 252 | 1 600 | 1 600 | 6.3 | 6.3 | ||
1978 | 273 | 2 000 | 2 000 | 7.3 | 7.3 | ||
1979 | 293 | 231 | 231 | 0.8 | 0.8 | ||
1980 | 310 | 251 | 251 | 0.8 | 0.8 | ||
1981 | 324 | 385 | 385 | 1.2 | 1.2 | ||
1982 | 335 | 426 | 426 | 1.3 | 1.3 | ||
1983 | 345 | 409 | 409 | 1.2 | 1.2 | ||
1984 | 354 | 409 | 409 | 1.2 | 1.2 | ||
1985 | 364 | 380 | 380 | 1.0 | 1.0 | ||
1986 | 376 | 410 | 410 | 1.1 | 1.1 | ||
1987 | 389 | 440 | 440 | 1.1 | 1.1 |
1 Source: FAO
2 Source: FAO Fisheries Department FISHDAB
The 1983–86 catch data refer to estimates based on 70% of the production officially reported.
3 No aquaculture in Djibouti (Vincke, 1989, pers.comm.)
5. KEY BIBLIOGRAPHY
Gasse, 1987
6. WATER BODIES DIRECTORY
Lakes |
Abbe (= Abhe Bid Hayk) |
Asal |
Lagoon |
Ghoubet Kharab |
Fig. 1. MAP OF DJIBOUTI
LAKE ABBE (= ABHE BID HAYK)
(International water)
Geographical data (Gasse, 1987) | ||
Location: | Djibouti, Ethiopia - 11°10'N; 41°46'E | |
Altitude: | 235 m asl | |
Surface area: | about 250 km2; surface area decreased from 400 km2 to about 250 km2 between 1954 and 1984 (water pumped for irrigation) | |
Catchment basin: | 76 000 km2 (= Awash river basin) | |
Max. length: | 45 km | |
Max. width: | 45 km | |
Depth: | less than 12 m (mean); 36 m (max) | |
Volume: | about 4 200 106m3 | |
Major inflowing river: | Awash River | |
Outflow: | none - internal basin. | |
Physical and chemical data (cited in Gasse, 1987) | ||
pH: | 9.8–11 | |
Ionic composition: | mg/l | |
Na | 55 000 | |
K | 840 | |
Ca | 5 | |
Mg | 1.4 | |
Cl | 40 835 | |
SO4 | 17 000 | |
HCO3+CO3 | 1 060 meq/l | |
Fisheries data: | no fishing activity. |
LAKE ASAL
Geographical data (Gasse, 1987) | ||
Location: | Djibouti - 11°27'N; 42°25'E | |
Altitude: | 155 m below sea level | |
Surface area: | 54 km2 | |
Max. length: | 10 km | |
Max. width: | 7 km | |
Depth: | 7.4 m (mean) | |
Volume: | 400 106m3 | |
Catchment area: | 900 km2 | |
Water inflow: | underground water and sea water through tectonic fissures. | |
Special features: | hyper-saline lake franged by 60 km2 salt plain. Hot water springs. | |
Physical and chemical data (cited in Gasse, 1987) | ||
pH: | 8.0–8.5 | |
Ionic composition: | mg/l | |
Na | 104 340 | |
K | 5 104 | |
Ca | 2 640 | |
Mg | 12 366 | |
Cl | 196 756 | |
SO4 | 2 554 | |
SiO2 | 12.5 | |
HCO3+CO3 | 3.6 meq/l | |
Fisheries data: | no fishing activity. |
GHOUBET KHARAB LAGOON
Geographical data | |
Location: | Djibouti - 11° 32'N; 42° 37'E |
Area: | 136 km2 |
Max. length: | 22 km |
Max. width: | 10 km |
7. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Gasse, 1987
1. GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE (Welcomme, 1979)
Egypt (with an area of 995 450 km2) is an almost rainless block of desert consisting of high plains and hills in the east and along the Nile Valley. The Nile River forms the main axis of the country and stretches some 1 300 km from the Sudan border to the Mediterranean. It can be divided into two main areas: the delta which extends as far as Cairo; and the rest of the Nile Valley. See Fig. 1.
Egypt is almost totally arid and all water enters the country through the Nile. Summer temperatures are high, but winter temperatures may fall as low as 10°C.
The inhabited strip of Egypt follows the banks of the Nile and expands into the delta. There is very intensive cultivation of crops as well as date palms, involving extensive irrigation networks. These, together with the flood control effects of the Aswan Dam, have stopped flooding over the previous floodplain.
2. HYDROGRAPHY (after Welcomme, 1979, and Balarin, 1986) See Fig. 2 and Table 1.
The water resources of Egypt fall into a limited number of categories. The desert condition and limited rainfall implies that runoff is minimal and that there are few surface water sources. The most important water resource is the Nile River which rises from central East Africa and is independent of the Egyptian climate. In addition, there are a number of natural brackish water lakes/lagoons, several oases, and the large Nasser Lake. Due to excessive irrigation Egypt also has an extensive recycled drainage water system.
According to SIS (1983a), available water resources in 1983 amounted to 60.7 billion m3, of which 59.5 billion m3 were used annually. It was planned to increase resources to 72.4 billion m3 by 1990. Inland waters represent about 405 000 ha. Lakes account for half this area; 162 000 ha are the Nile; and 40 000 ha are in the form of navigation and irrigation canals (Wunder, 1960).
2.1 Lakes
The largest natural lake is Lake Quarun, situated near El Fayum. It covers 220 km2 and, although originally freshwater, its salinity has increased steadily since 1920 to nearly 35‰. The lake is shallow and very productive. Lake Wadi Rayan (142 km2) is somewhat smaller. Some small, highly saline lakes are associated with the Siwa Oasis in the northwest and Wadi El Natrun in the northeast.
2.2 Rivers, Floodplains and Swamps
The Nile is the only river in Egypt and receives no tributaries in its 1 300 km course through the country. Its basin covers an area of 2 million km2. Before reaching Egypt, its waters travel 5 200 km through Tanzania, Zaire, Kenya, Uganda, Sudan and Ethiopia. In Egypt the Nile River discharges into the Mediterranean Sea through seven branches (the two main branches being the Rossetta and Damieta), creating the fan-shaped delta region. The Nile lies within the rift valley and the unstable shelf zone of Egypt. It is bound on its fringes by extensive plains of gravel creating tablelands. The eastern side is more developed and is dissected by “Wadis” that discharge into the Nile.
The water level in the Nile is lowest in April-July and highest in September, with no relation to rainfall in Egypt. Since the construction of the Aswan High Dam, the natural regime of the river flow in Egypt is being controlled and discharges are regulated.
The annual flow of the river varies considerably from year to year, ranging from 45 to 150 billion m3 (Hefny, 1982). Regulation of this flow has long been of primary concern in view of the importance of a regular supply for irrigation and to control floods from devastating crops and villages. Early attempts include the Old Aswan Dam and barrages at Assiut and below Cairo. The effect of the Aswan High Dam is clear from Fig. 5 (see entry “Nile River”, p.49).
Of concern, however, is the loss in silt. The Nile carried a total average load of 134 million t/yr of silt (Hefny, 1982) which was responsible for the Delta sediments, adding to the growth of the region, and playing an important role in the historical fertility of agricultural land. All the silt is now deposited in Lake Nasser; almost clear water, containing only 1.5–4% of the original mean silt load is now discharged downstream. The consequence of this is the loss in fertility to agricultural lands, the reduction in primary production in the Delta Estuarine region, increased coastal erosion, and an increased salinity in lakes, such as Lake Quarun.
The Nile Delta represents one of the largest floodplains in Africa which, prior to the Aswan High Dam, was almost entirely swamp, transformed into a lake at times of flooding. Following river control, only waterways and drainage channels are now under water.
There are a large number of oases in Egypt deriving water from artesian sources (Fig. 2, Table 1). SIS (1983b) mentions groundwater reserves in the Delta and Upper Egypt estimated at 2 billion m3. In addition, the New Valley underground reservoir of 150 000 km2 contains 6 billion m3. Further explorations are currently underway in the Delta, Upper Egypt, the Eastern Desert and the Sinai Peninsula.
Hefny (1982) mentions that topographical water-collecting basins occur on the western side of the Nile Delta (e.g. Wadi El Natrun and Qattara Depressions), while on the eastern side there are water-discharging basins (e.g. Wadi El Tumilat).
FAO (1974) attributed groundwater supplies to: (a) infiltration of Nile water; (b) storage in Nubian sandstones of the Western Desert; and (c) shallow infiltration of rain water, a total annual potential of 4 500 million m3.
2.3 Reservoirs
The Aswan Dam retains a large body of water, the Nasser/Nubia Reservoir, which covers 6 850 km2 at a level of 183 m (5 811 km2 in Egypt). Closed in 1965, it began to reach capacity in 1976 and is now the largest single source of fresh water for the whole of Egypt. (See Fig. 5, p. 49.)
Eastern Desert
Western Desert
Nile Valley and Delta
3A Northern Littoral Region
3B The Delta
3C Middle Egypt (High population density zone)
3D Upper Egypt
Fig. 1. MAJOR NATURAL REGIONS OF EGYPT
(Balarin, 1986)
(Numbers refer to Table 1)
Fig. 2. MAJOR WATER BODIES AND OASES IN EGYPT
(Balarin, 1986)
Table 1. MORPHOLOGICAL DATA FOR MAJOR LAKES AND DEPRESSIONS
(modified, after Balarin, 1986)
Nos. refer to Fig.2 | Name (date constructed) | Basin/District | |||||||
Description | Fishery Potential (t/yr) | Use e | Salinity (ppt) (‰) | Water temp. (°C) | |||||
Area (km2) | Altitude (m) | Mean depth (m) | |||||||
Natural Brackish Water Lakes | |||||||||
1. | L.Manzalah | Delta | 900 | 0–0.6 | 1.1 | 31 000–75 000 | f | 2–15 | 19.4–26.8 |
2. | L.Burullus | Delta | 472–560 | 0–0.6 | 1.0 | 7 000–43 000 | f | 16–19 | 15.8–27.2 |
3. | L.Edku | Delta | 130 | 0–0.6 | 0.75 | 4 000 | f | 5–15 | 14.5–28.5 |
4. | L.Mariut | Alexandria | 27.3 | -3 | 0.9 | 11 000–15 000 | f | 5–8 | 12.7–29.0 |
Natural Saline Lakes | |||||||||
5. | Port Fouad depr. | E.Suez | 96–200 | 0 | 0.7–12 | 600 | f | ||
6. | Bardawil depr. | N.Sinai | 600–726 | 0 | 6 | 3 000 | f | 40–55 | 12.7–30.5 |
Artificial Brackish Water Lake | |||||||||
7. | L.Quarun | W.Desert | 220 | -45 | 3.5–8 | 2 000 | f | 34 | 15–30 |
Artificial Freshwater Lakes | |||||||||
8 | L.Nasser (1964) | 2 500–5 250 | 183 | 25 | 30 000–35 000 | i,w,p,f | 0 | 16–32 | |
9. | Wadi Natrum | ||||||||
10. | El Faiyum Oasis | ||||||||
11. | Qattara depression | ||||||||
12. | Siwa Oasis | ||||||||
13. | Bahariya Oasis | ||||||||
14. | Farafra Oasis | ||||||||
15. | Dakhla Oasis | ||||||||
16. | Kharga Oasis | ||||||||
17. | Amer | ||||||||
18. | Ruwayan | ||||||||
19. | Nozha Hydrodrome | Alexandria | 4.8 | -3.6 | 3 | f | 15.5–27.5 |
Key: c=commercial/industrial;
f=fishery
i=irrigation
p=power generation;
w=water supply.
Data sources: see text (directory)
2.4 Coastal Lagoons (see Fig. 3)
Egypt has an extensive surface area of coastal lagoons (circa 2 500 km2); the largest are Manzalah (900 km2), Bardawil (726 km2), and Burullus (560 km2).
The most characteristic of Egyptian lagoons are found in the Delta Region. Lagoons Manzalah, Burullus and Edku are similar in that they are permanently, or for at least a number of months in the year, connected to the open sea by a natural narrow channel. Mariut Lagoon, on the contrary, is permanently cut off from the sea by the Mex pumping station, its surface level being maintained at up to 3 m below sea level. All these lagoons are shallow (less than 1 m deep), fluctuating seasonally and varying in salinity from 9.5 to 28.5 ‰.
Bardawil Lagoon and Port Fouad are depressions which are supplied by sea water through an artificial sea link. They are therefore artificial lagoons and are deeper than 5 m, their salinity varying from brackish to sea water strength. Most of these Delta lagoons receive a discharge of irrigation drainage water.
Fig. 3. NILE DELTA LAGOONS
(Lemoalle, 1987)
2.5 Aquaculture
Aquaculture development in Egypt has taken many forms, ranging from lake stocking to fish production in hatcheries, howashs, ponds, enclosures, cages and tank systems. In view of the diverse nature of the industry and the problem of classification of certain forms of production, either as fishery or as fish farming, accurate statistics are difficult to obtain. The status of aquaculture was recently reviewed by Sadek (1984) and by Balarin (1986). The total area specially devoted to aquaculture in 1982 was estimated as follows:
private fish farms | 25 118 ha |
government fish farms (intensive) | 5 330 ha |
howash | 48 845 ha |
The “howash”, or drain-in ponds, are low-lying areas enclosed by small earthen dykes. They fill when the water level rises, and the entrapped fish are harvested as the water level drops.
(For more detailed information on aquaculture, see Balarin, 1986.)
3. FISHERY PRODUCTION/POTENTIAL
3.1 Fish production and per caput supply
Table 2. FISH PRODUCTION AND PER CAPUT SUPPLY - Egypt, 1970–1987
Nominal Domestic Production (including exports) (t) 2 | Nominal Consumer Supply (excluding imports & exports) (kg/person) | ||||||||
Year | Population '000 1 | Inland capture | Aquaculture 3 | Marine capture 6 | Total | Inland capture | Aquaculture 3 | Marine capture | Total |
1970 | 33 053 | 53 700 | - 4 | 27 200 | 80 900 | 1.6 | - 4 | 0.8 | 2.4 |
1971 | 33 676 | 53 200 | - | 34 400 | 87 600 | 1.6 | - | 1.0 | 2.6 |
1972 | 34 311 | 55 000 | - | 38 800 | 93 800 | 1.6 | - | 1.1 | 2.7 |
1973 | 34 958 | 65 700 | - | 27 800 | 93 500 | 1.9 | - | 0.8 | 2.7 |
1974 | 35 617 | 68 700 | - | 27 465 | 96 165 | 1.9 | - | 0.8 | 2.7 |
1975 | 36 289 | 80 664 | - | 25 910 | 106 574 | 2.2 | - | 0.7 | 2.9 |
1976 | 37 280 | 72 276 | - | 30 488 | 102 764 | 1.9 | - | 0.8 | 2.7 |
1977 | 38 297 | 74 959 | - | 29 582 | 104 541 | 1.9 | - | 0.8 | 2.7 |
1978 | 39 343 | 79 005 | - | 20 910 | 99 915 | 2.0 | - | 0.5 | 2.5 |
1979 | 40 417 | 100 000 | - | 37 480 | 137 480 | 2.5 | - | 0.9 | 3.4 |
1980 | 41 520 | 108 148 | - | 32 249 | 140 397 | 2.6 | - | 0.8 | 3.4 |
1981 | 42 546 | 108 146 | - | 33 564 | 141 710 | 2.5 | - | 0.8 | 3.3 |
1982 | 43 597 | 112 614 | 18 520 5 | 24 594 | 155 728 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 3.6 |
1983 | 44 674 | 106 856 | 24 000 5 | 26 446 | 157 302 | 2.4 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 3.5 |
1984 | 45 778 | 116 130 | 25 000 5 | 22 708 | 163 838 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 3.5 |
1985 | 46 909 | 130 757 | 47 346 5 | 37 817 | 215 920 | 2.8 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 4.6 |
1986 | 47 984 | 140 036 | 50 000 5 | 39 042 | 229 078 | 2.9 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 4.7 |
1987 | 49 084 | 141 700 | 60 000 5 | 48 300 | 250 000 | 2.9 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 5.1 |
1 Source: FAO
2 Source: FAO Fisheries Department FISHDAB
3 included in “Inland capture” if not specified.
4 - = data not available.
5 Fresh and brackishwater (Vincke, 1989, pers.comm.).
6 Marine exports from 1980 to 1983 were as follows: 1980: 278 t; 1981: 275 t; 1982: 384 t; 1983: 300 t.
Alternative data, presenting a compilation of several authors, done by Balarin (1986) are given in Table 3.
Table 3. NATIONAL FISH PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION (excluding aquaculture)
(Balarin, 1986)
Production (t × 103/yr) | Import (t × 103/yr) d | Export (t×103/yr) d | Consumption | ||||||
Year | Inland h | Marine h | Total d | (t × 103/yr) | Pop (× 103) | kg/ind/yr | |||
c | d | ||||||||
1963 | 44.6j– 62.8 | 65.0 | 109.4j–127.8 | 6.5 | 2.4 | 131.9–137.0 | 27.5 | 5.0 | 4.80 |
1964 | 46.3j– 76.1 | 44.4–51.4 | 98.2j–127.5 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 127.8–144.0 | 28.3 | 5.1 | 4.52 |
1965 | 45.5j– 64.6 | 42.0 | 87.3j–106.6 | 9.9g–13.3 | 1.1g–2.4 | 117.6–155.0 | 29.0 | 5.3 | 4.05 |
1966 | 41.5j– 61.3 | 37.6 | 79.2j–98.9 | 6.7–23.9g | 1.4 | 101.0–104.2 | 29.7 | 3.4 | 3.51 |
1967 | 49.4j– 69.6 | 25.8 | 75.5j–95.4 | 18.5g–26.7 | 1.1g–1.6 | 106.0–120.5 | 30.5 | 3.5 | 3.95 |
1968 | 38.9j– 58.5 | 3.4–16.5g | 55.5j–75.1 | 5.9g–12.9 | 0.7 | 87.5– 97.0 | 31.3 | 3.1 | 2.76 |
1969 | 40.5j– 60.5g | 7.2–27.6g | 65.8j–89.3 | 2.2–4.6g | 0.5 | 77.0–91.0 | 32.1 | 2.4 | 2.83 |
1970 | 39.4j– 60.0a | 9.0–21.2 | 56-2j–81.2 | 2.0–2.7g | 0.3 | 73.0–82.9 | 33.0 | 2.2 | 2.51 |
1971 | 40.1j– 61.6 | 11.0–30.1g | 70.2j–88.6 | 1.8 | 0.1 | 89.0–90.3 | 34.2 | 2.6 | 2.64 |
1972 | 42.7j– 64.0g | 11.5–37.0g | 81.5j–101.2 | 2.5 | 0.2 | 98.3–103.0 | 34.8 | 3.0 | 2.82 |
1973 | 51.5j– 71.8 | 7.9–27.9g | 78.6j–97.2 | 13.2 | 0.2 | 98.0–110.2 | 35.6 | 2.7 | 3.10 |
1974 | 63.7j– 84.3 | 15.1–27.7g | 91.5j–110.0 | 19.1 | 0.1 | 115.0–129.0 | 36.4 | 3.2 | 3.54 |
1975 | 71.1j– 89.6 | 15.0–28.0 | 94.5j–122.0 | 28.0–32.5 | 0.2 | 117.0–149.9 | 37.2 | 3.1–3.3 | 4.03 |
1976 | 76.7j– 81.4d | 16.0–30.2g | 106.6–109.0 | 27.0–55.5 | 0.2 | 164.3–185.0 | 36.6–38.2 | 4.75 | 4.30 |
1977 | 83.5j– 87.5d | 15.8–38.1g | 104.5b–121.6 | 37.0–49.4 | 0.3–0.4b | 145.7–153.5 | 39.3 | 4.0 | 3.70 |
1978 | 79.0 – 91.4d | 20.6–34.1g | 99.9–125.4 | 66.5 | 0.1 | 178.7 | 39.9 | 4.45 | |
1979 | 96.5d – 100.5 | 39.5–43.6g | 104.1–165.0 | 33.9–60.0j | 0.4 | 173.6–225.0j | 41.0 | 4.23–5.5 | |
1980 | 94.7d | 35.6g | 130.3 | 26.4 | 0.3 | 156.4 | 42.1 | 3.73 | |
1981 | 100.2d | 28.0g–37.0g | 137.3 | 72.5 | 0.2(54)f | 209.6 | 43.0 | 4.88 | |
1982 | 101.0d | 49.0d | 150.1–160.0 | 89.4 | 0.1 | 239.4 | 44.0 | 5.44 | |
(217)d | (355.3)d | (8.08) |
Sources:
a Welcomme, 1979
b FAO, 1980
c Feidi, 1976
d Sadek, 1984
e CAPMS, 1982
f SIS, 1983b
g FAO, 1974
h Saad, 1982
i Ishak/Hamza, 1983
j Atkins Land & Water Mgmt., 1979.
3.2 Inland catch range and potential yield
Table 4. INLAND CATCH RANGE AND POTENTIAL YIELD
Water body | Period | Annual catch range (t) | Potential annual yield (t) | |
Lake Quarun | 1975–76 | 1 513; 2 000–3 000 b | 2 000–3 000 b decreasing a | |
Lake Wadi Rayan | 1982 | 200 | - | |
Nile River and irrigation canals | 1970–79 1976 | 7 500–9 000 15 000 b | 8 000 e–20 000 c 15 000 b | |
Nasser Reservoir | 1980–81 1976 | 30 316–33 933 10 000–16 000 b | 30 000 c–35 000 g 10 000–16 000 b | |
Lagoons | ||||
Bardawil | 1967; 1977; 1981–82 | 2 493–2 658 | 3 500 c | |
Burullus | 1962–70; 1975–76; 1982 | 8 128–43 015 | 15 000–43 000 c | |
Edku | 1972; 1975–76; 1982 | 4 008–7 770 | 4 000 c | |
Manzalah | 1907–35; 1957–80; 1982 1976 | 8 496–63 330 21 000 b | 31 000 d–75 000 c | |
Mariut | 1972; 1975–76; 1982 1976 | 22 000–58 200 38 000 b | 11 000–15 000 d | |
Port Fouad | 1976; 1982 | 150–300 | 600 c | |
Um El Rish | 1979 | 2 267 | ||
No data available for: | ||||
Alamain and Matrooh, Great Bitter, Little Bitter, Nozha Hydrodrome, and Timsah Lagoons | ||||
Other Lakes and Lagoons | 2 000–3 000 b | 2 000–3 000 b | ||
Aquaculture | 1982–1987 | 18 520–60 000 f | 24 000 c | |
over 60 000 f |
Sources:
a Ferlin, 1980
b Welcomme, 1979
c Sadek, 1984
d Balarin, 1986
e Latif, 1984
f Vincke, 1989 (pers.comm.)
g Entz, 1984
Total annual yield
in 1976: 72 800–80 000 t b
in 1987, including aquaculture: 200 000 t (Table 2)
Potential annual yield
126 000–277 000 t (Table 4).
4. STATE OF THE FISHERY
(Adapted and updated from Welcomme, 1979;
Balarin, 1986; Latif, 1984; and Entz, 1984)
4.1 Yield
Although there is a long recorded statistical history of fishery resources, Table 3 shows that there is some discrepancy in the records. Sadek (1984), in an analysis of the situation in 1982, presents official inland water statistics as amounting to 101 618 t, of which 81 618 t are from lakes and 20 000 t from the Nile and its canals. However, also presented are statistics of various studies conducted on the lakes which suggest that production in 1982 stood at 173 100 t, over twice that of the official records. Adding the marine catch (49 000 t) and aquaculture production (24 000 t), this gives a national estimate of 266 100 t — nearly 77% higher than that presented in Table 3. In addition, nearly 90 000 t of fish were imported in 1982 and it is possible, therefore, that fish consumption may lie between 5.4 and 8.1 kg/cap/yr.
In 1982 inland fisheries produced over 67.5% of the fish landed, over 54.2% coming from the lake fisheries. However, the diverse and dispersed nature of the inland fishery means that the activities of the numerous fishermen cannot be fully monitored.
Accurate estimates of catches in the Nile River fisheries are incomplete, due to the dispersed nature of the fishery represented by 93 000 ha of irrigation waterways and up to 12 000 km2 of river area. Recent catch estimates indicate a stable condition of 20 000 t/yr since 1976 (Sadek, 1984). This implies that accurate statistics are not available. Earlier estimates of potential varied between 8 000 and 15 000 t/yr (Table 4).
In the Nasser Reservoir there has been a near linear increase in fish production from 15 kg/ha/yr in 1968 to over 50 kg/ha/yr in 1978. This represents an increase in total production from 750 t in 1976 to 34 000 t/yr in 1981.
Earlier (1973) estimates of M.S.Y. based on MEF of 19 000 t/yr for the Nasser Reservoir have been surpassed with little indication of overfishing. The yield potential is now considered to lie between 30 000 and 35 000 t/yr.
Lake Quarun, although now a minor fishery, was once estimated by Welcomme (1972) to have a potential M.S.Y. of 10 000 t/yr. Originally a freshwater lake, it has now become saline (34 ‰ salinity in 1976). This change in salinity has resulted in the disparition of the freshwater species, except for some tilapia. Production dropped from 4 000 t in 1920 to 2 000 t/yr.
The lagoons form one of the main Egyptian fisheries with a potential of 143 000 t/yr (Sadek, 1984). Yields vary from 1 400 kg/ha/yr (for Mariut), to 250 kg/ha/yr (for Manzalah), to a low of 37–45 kg/ha/yr (for Edku, Port Fouad and Bardawil). Estimates are quite variable, however, and no accurate statistics have yet been advanced.
Recently the status of aquaculture in Egypt was reviewed by Sadek (1984) and a total estimate for 1982 was given as 24 000 t. Nearly 30 550 ha of ponds are included, with an average yield of 786 kg/ha/yr. Status of the howash, however, is uncertain. Certainly extensive aquaculture practices to increase yields of Lakes Quarun, Mariut, Edku and Nozha Hydrodome are possibly not included. This may well be represented by the estimate of Ishak (pers.comm.) of 6 000 t/yr.
Aquaculture production (t) from 1982 to 1987 has been estimated as follows by Vincke (1989, pers.comm.):
Species | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 |
Osteichthyes | 18 520 | 24 000 | 25 000 | 47 346 | 50 000 | 60 000 |
(fresh and brackish water) |
4.2 Factors influencing yield
It is likely that the present yield is approaching M.S.Y. although no allowance appears to have been made for loss in productivity due to the reduced silt load created by the Aswan High Dam.
The closure of the Aswan High Dam gave rise to a 7 000 km2 lake. It has had far-reaching implications on the decline of the Mediterranean fishery. Loss of nutrients due to the reduced silt load and, in particular, loss of planktomic food organisms which bloomed when the Nile flooded, have resulted in a drastic decline in sardine populations which used to gather in the delta at the time of floods.
Another effect of the Aswan High Dam is the increase in salinity in Lake Quarun. If the increase in salinity continues, Ferlin (1980) estimates that by the year 2000 the salinity will reach 50 ppt and it is feared that all fish life may disappear.
The coastal lagoons are extremely productive, but unfortunately have been filled in to some degree for agriculture. An extension of such land reclamation, together with the cessation of inflow of fresh waters after the closing of the Aswan Dam, may affect production. Pollution by domestic sewage and agro-chemicals is also a real problem in the delta area.
4.3 Future development possibilities
The reclamation of land around the lagoons, the extension of irrigation, the lower flow of the Nile and the increasing effects of the Aswan High Dam will probably all contribute to a diminution of fish catch from this more northerly part of the system. This may be offset to a certain degree by coastal aquaculture in the lagoons. The potential of Nasser/Nubia Reservoir is relatively high but it seems that the production from natural waters is already close to it. This is indicated by the smaller-sized fishes in current landings than in landings from earlier years. However, production of young fish in some Khors and the introduction of clupeids could increase the Nasser/Nubia Reservoir's potential.
5. KEY BIBLIOGRAPHY
General: Balarin, 1986
Delta Lagoons: Lemoalle, 1987
Nasser/Nubia Reservoir: Entz, 1984; Latif, 1984.
6. WATER BODIES DIRECTORY
Lakes | ||
Quarun | Zeitun/Am Abd Et Gabbar Complex | |
Wadi Rayan | ||
Rivers/Reservoirs | ||
Nile River | Nasser/Nubia Reservoir | |
Lagoons | ||
Alamain and Matrooh | Great Bitter | Nozha Hydrodrome |
Bardawil | Little Bitter | Port Fouad (=El-Mallaha) |
Burullus | Manzalah | Timsah |
Edku | Mariut | Um El Rish |
LAKE QUARUN
Geographical data | (Welcomme, 1972; Lemoalle, 1987) |
Location: | Egypt - 29° 29'N; 30° 35'E |
Altitude: | -45 m |
Surface area: | c. 235 km2 |
Length: | 40 km |
Width: | max. 9.25 km; |
Depth: | 8 m (max); 3.5 m (mean) |
Inflow: | irrigation drainage water; average 390 × 103m3/yr |
Outflow: | none - internal basin |
Physical and chemical data (Lemoalle, 1987) | |
Surface temperature: | 15–16°C in January |
28–30°C in August | |
pH: | always c. 8 |
Salinity: | 13.4 ‰ in 1901 |
30.6 ‰ in 1953–55 | |
30.9 ‰ in 1974 | |
34.5 ‰ in 1976 | |
Originally a freshwater lake, this process of salinization has been accelerated since the closure of the Aswan High Dam. | |
Ionic composition: | |
NO3: 40–50 μg/l | |
PO4: 0–0.7 μg/l | |
Fisheries data | |
The freshwater fauna has virtually disappeared and the lake has since been stocked with a variety of brackishwater species. | |
Main fish species: | |
Tilapia zillii, Mugil cephalus, M. capito and Solea vulgaris - all introduced in 1928. Their fry are restocked into the lake each year. (Lemoalle, 1987) | |
No. of fishermen: | 6 540 (Shaheen et al., 1980) |
No. of boats: | 550 in 1976 (Ferlin, 1980) |
Total annual catch: | |
2 000 t (1982); 1 660 t (1976); 1 513 t (1975); 4 000 (1920) | |
2 000–3 000 t (Welcomme, 1979) | |
Potential annual yield: | |
1 760 to 1 880 t/yr (80 kg/ha/yr) (Sadek, 1984). |
LAKE WADI RAYAN
Geographical data | |
Location: | Egypt - 29° 15'N; 30° 29'E |
Area: | 142 km2 |
Fisheries data | |
Total annual catch: | 200 t (1982) |
ZEITUN/AM ABD ET GABBAR LAKE COMPLEX
Geographical data | |
Location: | Egypt - 29° 12'N; 25° 28'E |
Special features: | a complex of 17 small saline lakes centered around the Siwa Oasis. |
NILE RIVER
(International water)
Geographical data (Welcomme, 1979, if not otherwise specified) | ||||
Source: | confluence of White Nile and Blue Nile at Khartoum | |||
Total length: | 3 800 km from Khartoum to mouth. The longest continuous stream measures 6 669 km: Nile, White Nile, Lake Victoria, Kagera River and Akanyaru River. 1 300 km in Egypt. (See Fig. 4) | |||
Drainage area: | 2 944 000 km2 (Welcomme, 1985); 2 000 000 km2 (Balarin, 1986) | |||
Area of water: | 1 160 km2 (in Egypt downstream from Aswan High Dam) | |||
Countries traversed: | ||||
Egypt, Sudan; the Nile Basin also extends into Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda | ||||
Major tributaries: | ||||
Atbara, Blue Nile, White Nile (= Bahr El Jebel + Sobat) | ||||
Contribution of tributaries to total Nile flow: | ||||
Average (%) | During flood (%) | |||
Blue Nile | 59 | 68 | ||
White Nile | ||||
Sobat | 14 | 22 | ||
Bahr El Jebel | 14 | 5 | ||
Atbara | 13 | 5 | ||
Discharges to: | Mediterranean Sea through a delta consisting of the Damietta and Rosetta arms | |||
Volume of discharge at mouth: | ||||
2 832 m3/sec; | ||||
45 to 150 109 m3/yr (Hefny, 1982) (See Fig. 5) | ||||
Suspended silt load: | ||||
124 × 106 t/yr (Welcomme, 1985); | ||||
134 × 106 t/yr (Hefny, 1982), deposited in Nasser/Nubia Reserv.; | ||||
only 1.5–4% discharged downstream (Balarin, 1986) | ||||
Special features: | the cataracts, Nasser/Nubia Reservoir (Aswan High Dam). |
Fig. 4. RIVERS AND LAKES OF THE NILE SYSTEM
(Welcomme, 1972)
Fisheries data
No. of fish species: 81 (Boulenger, 1907)
Total annual catch and effort:
Year | Total catch (t) | No.of boats |
Egyptian waters below Aswan High Dam: | ||
1963 | 1 200 | 1 049 |
1964 | 1 100 | 1 100 |
1965 | 1 600 | 1 300 |
1966 | 2 000 | 1 320 |
1967 | 2 900 | 1 500 |
1968 | 4 400 | 1 900 |
1969 | 4 800 | 1 950 |
1970 | 8 900 | 2 029 |
1971 | 8 900 | 2 069 |
1972 | 8 700 | 2 313 |
1973 | 8 000 | 2 640 |
1974 | 7 500 | 3 440 |
1975 | 8 600 | 3 894 |
1976 | 8 600 | 4 421 |
1977 | 7 600 | 4 948 |
1978 | 8 300 | 5 475 |
1979 | 9 000 | 6 002 |
Nile, irrigation canals and aquaculture (Welcomme, 1979): | ||
1976 | 15 000 | - |
Potential annual yield:
20 000 t/yr (Sadek, 1984)
225 kg/ha/yr (Sadek, 1984)
Fig. 5. ANNUAL FLOW REGIME OF THE NILE RIVER, 1956–1980
(Balarin, 1986)
NASSER/NUBIA RESERVOIR
(International water)
(See detailed ref. in Entz, 1984)
Geographical data (see Fig. 6) | |||
Location: | Egypt (Nasser); Sudan (Nubia) - 20° 27'–23° 58'N; 30° 35'–33° 15'E | ||
Altitude: | 183 m at USL; 170–175 m mean | ||
Dam height: | 111 m | ||
Date closed: | May 1964; working lake level reached Sept. 1979 | ||
Surface area: | 6 850 km2 at USL | ||
6 216 km2 at 180 m lake level (5 072 km2 in Egypt; 1 144 km2 in Sudan) | |||
3 057 km2 at 160 m lake level (2 497 km2 in Egypt; 560 km2 in Sudan) | |||
Depth: | mean | at 180 m lake level: | 25.2 m |
at 160 m lake level: | 21.6 m | ||
max. | at 180 m lake level: | 130 m | |
at 160 m lake level: | 110 m | ||
Volume: | mean | at 180 m lake level: | 65.9 km3 |
(55.6 km3 in Egypt; 10.3 km3 in Sudan) | |||
max. | at 180 m lake level: | 156.9 km3 | |
(132.4 km3 in Egypt; 24.5 km3 in Sudan) | |||
Length: | max. | at 180 m lake level: | 496 km |
mean | at 160 m lake level: | 430 km | |
Width: | max. | at 180 m lake level: | 60.0 km |
mean | at 180 m lake level: | 12.5 km (total lake) | |
18.5 km (only Nasser) | |||
mean | at 160 m lake level: | 7.5 km (total lake) | |
8.9 km (only Nasser) | |||
Shoreline: | at 180 m lake level: | 9 250 km | |
at 160 m lake level: | 6 027 km | ||
Annual fluctuation in level: 7–10 m | |||
Catchment area above High Dam: 2 400 000 km2 | |||
Mean inflow: | 84.0 km3/yr; 2 662 m3/sec | ||
Suspended solids: | 1–10 mg/l (low water); 2–10 g/l (flood); inflow: 134 × 106 t/yr | ||
Displacement time: | 2 years | ||
Major inflowing river: | Nile | ||
Outflowing river: | Nile | ||
Specific references: | Ali, 1984; Entz, 1984; Latif, 1984; Marshall, 1984. | ||
Physical and chemical data | |||
Surface temperature: | |||
16–32°C (23.9°C mean); 16–18°C during winter period | |||
Conductivity: | 190–300 μS/cm; 260 μS/cm; (210–230 μS/cm mean) | ||
Dissolved solids: | 175–200 mg/l (185 mean) | ||
pH: | 6.8–9.0; 7.1–9.4 | ||
Oxygen: | winter: 6.7–11 (surface); 5.4–8.7 (bottom) | ||
summer: 4.9–10 (surface); 0 (bottom) | |||
Ionic composition: | mg/l | ||
Na | 8.2–27.8 | ||
K | 1.9–8.0 | ||
Ca | 14.3–27.5 | ||
Mg | 4.5–12.5 | ||
HCO3 | 70–160 | ||
Cl | 2.96–9.83 | ||
SO4 | 5–10.8 | ||
SiO2 | 12.45–17.18 | ||
NO3 | |||
surf. | 0.001–1.25 | ||
bottom | 0.04–1.27 | ||
PO4-P | 0.10–0.17 |
Fig. 6. NASSER/NUBIA RESERVOIR
(FAO/UNDP, 1975)
Table 5. LIST OF FISH SPECIES FOR NASSER/NUBIA RESERVOIR
(adapted from Latif, 1984 and Ali, 1984)
Family | Species | Nasser a | Nubia b | |
1. | PROTOPTERIDAE | Protopterus aethiopicus | + | + |
2. | POLYPTERIDAE | Polypterus bichir | + | + |
P. spp. | + | |||
3. | MORMYRIDAE | Mormyrops anguilloidos | + | + |
Petrocephalus bane | + | + | ||
Marcusenius isidori | + | + | ||
M. spp. | + | |||
Gnathonemus cyprinoides | + | + | ||
Mormyrus kannume | + | + | ||
M. caschive | + | + | ||
Hyperopisus bebe | + | + | ||
4. | GYMNARCHIDAE | Gymnarchus niloticus | + | |
5. | CHARACIDAE | Hydrocynus forskalii | + | + |
H. lineatus | + | |||
H. brevis | + | |||
Alestes nurse | + | + | ||
A. baremose | + | + | ||
A. dentex | + | + | ||
6. | DISTICHODONTIDAE | Distichodus niloticus | + | + |
D. rostratus | + | |||
D. engycephalus | + | |||
7. | CITHARINIDAE | Citharinus citharus | + | + |
C. latus | + | |||
8. | CYPRINIDAE | Chelaethiops bibie | + | |
Raiamas niloticus | + | |||
R. loati | + | |||
Labeo forskalii | + | |||
L. niloticus | + | + | ||
L. coubie | + | + | ||
L. horie | + | + | ||
Discognathus vinciguerrae | + | |||
Barbus werneri | + | |||
B. perince | + | |||
B. neglectus | + | |||
B. anema | + | |||
B. bynni | + | |||
9. | CLARIDAE | Clarias anguillaris | + | + |
C. Lazera | + | + | ||
Heterobranchus bidorsalie | + | |||
10. | SCHILBEIDAE | Eutropius niloticus | + | + |
Schilbe mystus | + | + | ||
S. uranoscopus | + | |||
Siluranodon auritus | + | |||
11. | BAGRIDAE | Bagrus bayad | + | + |
B. docmac | + | + | ||
Chrysichthys auratus | + | + | ||
C. rueppelli | + | |||
Clarotes laticeps | + | + | ||
Auchenoglanis biscutatus | + | |||
A. occidentalis | + | + | ||
A. spp. | + | |||
12. | MOCHOKIDAE | Synodontis schall | + | + |
S. serratus | + | + | ||
S. clarias | + | |||
S. batensoda | + | |||
S. khartoumensis | + | |||
Mochocus niloticus | + | |||
Chiloglanis niloticus | + | |||
13. | MALAPTERURIDAE | Malapterurus electricus | + | + |
14. | CICHLIDAE | Oreochromis niloticus | + | + |
O. galilaea | + | + | ||
15. | CENTROPOMIDAE | Lates niloticus | + | + |
16. | TETRODONTIDAE | Tetraodon fahaka | + | + |
17. | OSTEOGLOSSIDAE | Heterotis niloticus | + | |
53 | 43 |
a Latif, 1984
b Ali, 1984 (Note: Nubia data are for 1967–1979)
Fisheries data
No. of fish species:
In Nasser Reservoir:
53 in 16 families (Latif, 1984). See list, Table 4.
Oreochromis niloticus and O. galilaea are the major fish landed,
comprising 95% (1978) of the total fresh, and 75% (1978) of the
total salted fish landed (Latif, 1984).
In Nubia Reservoir:
43 in 16 families (Ali, 1984). See list, Table 4.
Total annual catch and effort:
Year | Total catch (t) | No.of fishermen (Nasser only) | No.of boats (Nasser only) | |
Nasser | Nubia | |||
1964 | 500 | |||
1966 | 749 | 600 | 200 | |
1967 | 1 415 | 1 050 | 350 | |
1968 | 2 663 | 1 500 | 500 | |
1969 | 4 071 | 1 815 | 599 | |
1970 | 5 618 | 198 | 2 466 | 816 |
1971 | 6 716 | 144 | 3 822 | 1 039 |
1972 | 8 545 | 228 | 4 540 | 1 135 |
1973 | 10 693 | 424 | - | - |
1974 | 12 257 | 268 | - | - |
1975 | 14 725 | 295 | - | - |
1976 | 15 971 | 285 | - | 2 000 |
1977 | 18 406 | 249 | - | - |
1978 | 22 587 | 204 | 5 964 | 1 962 |
1979 | 26 995 | 355 | - | - |
1980 | 30 316 | 628 | - | - |
1981 | 33 933 | 625 | - | - |
1982 | - | 9 000 | - |
Potential annual yield:
Nasser Reservoir:
earlier estimates based on MEI: 19 000 t/yr
30 000 t/yr (Sadek, 1984)
35 000 t/yr in 1982 (Entz, 1984)
30 kg/ha/yr (Sadek, 1984)
78 kg/ha/yr (Entz, 1984)
Nubia Reservoir:
5 000 t/yr (Ali, 1984)
5 100 t/yr (51 kg/ha/yr) (Henderson, 1975)
ALAMAIN AND MATROOH LAGOONS
Geographical data | |
Location: | Egypt |
Area: | 14.6 km2 |
Fisheries data | |
Total annual catch: | no commercial exploitations |
BARDAWIL LAGOON
Geographical data | |
Location: | Egypt- 31° 2'–31° 13'N; 32° 40'–33° 29' E |
Altitude: | 0 m |
Area: | 600–726 km2 |
Max. length: | 78 km |
Max. width: | 20 km |
Mean depth: | 6 m |
Physical and chemical data (Pisanty, 1981) | |
Temperature: | 12.7–30.5 °C |
Salinity: | 40–55 ‰ |
Fisheries data | |
No. of fish species: 65 |
Total annual catch and effort:
Year | Total catch (t) | No.of fishermen | No.of boats |
1964 | 2 200 | - | - |
1965 | 1 700 | - | - |
1966 | 1 800 | - | - |
1967 | 2 600 | - | - |
1968–76 | - | - | - |
1977 | 2 658 | - | - |
1978–80 | - | - | - |
1981 | 2 493 | - | - |
1982 | 2 528 | 2 280 | 922 |
not specified | - | 1 135 | 399 (Balarin, 1986) |
Potential annual yield: | 3 000 t/yr (Pisanty, 1981) |
3 500 t/yr (Sadek, 1984) | |
41 kg/ha/yr (Sadek, 1984) |
Fig. 7. BURULLUS (BROLLUS) LAGOON
(Lemoalle, 1987)
BURULLUS (or Brollus) LAGOON
Geographical data (see Fig. 7) | |||
(* data cited in Lemoalle, 1987) | |||
Location: | Egypt - 31°23'–35'N; 30° 33'–31° 8'E | ||
Altitude: | 0–0.6 m as ½ | ||
Surface area: | 472–560 km2 (Balarin, 1986) | ||
Depth: | *0.7–2.4 m; mean: 1.0 m | ||
Max. length: | 57 km | ||
Max. width: | 14 km | ||
Inflow: | *drainage water via 7 drains, plus freshwater from Nile-Rosetta branch and underground water. | ||
Outflow: | *narrow channel to the sea. Exchange of water also occurs between the lagoon and the sea through that channel. | ||
Physical and chemical data | |||
Salinity: | 16–19 ‰ | ||
Surface temperature: | *11°C (Feb.) – 29.5°C (Aug.) | ||
pH: | *8.08–8.72 | ||
O2: | *2.7–11.8 mg/l | ||
Ionic composition: | Cl = 0.36–13.5 g/l | ||
Fisheries data | |||
No. of boats: | 2 980 in 1976; 3 000 (Ferlin, 1980) | ||
No. of fishermen: | 8 500 (Shaheen, et al., 1980) | ||
Total annual catch: | |||
Year | Total catch (t) | ||
1962 | 8 128 | ||
1963 | 8 756 | ||
1964 | 10 234 | ||
1965 | 10 525 | ||
1966 | 15 253 | ||
1967 | 13 515 | ||
1968 | 12 898 | ||
1969 | 10 429 | ||
1970 | 10 218 | ||
1971–74 | - | ||
1975 | 12 178 | ||
1976 | 10 540 | ||
1977–81 | - | ||
1982 | 43 015 | ||
Potential annual yield: | |||
7 000–15 000 t/yr (Balarin, 1986) 250 kg/ha/yr (Balarin, 1986) 43 000 t/yr (Sadek, 1984) 150 kg/ha/yr (Sadek, 1984) |
EDKU LAGOON
Geographical data (see Fig. 8) | ||
(*data cited in Lemoalle, 1987) | ||
Location: | Egypt - 31° 15'N 30° 13'E | |
Altitude: | 0–0.6 m asl | |
Surface area: | 130 km2 | |
Depth: | *0.5–1.5 m; mean: 0.75 m | |
Inflow: | *drainage water; sea water inflow during winter | |
Outflow: | *El Maadiah channel to the sea. | |
Physical and chemical data | ||
Salinity: | 5–15 ‰ | |
For 1969–1970: | ||
Surface temperature: 14.5°C (Jan.) to 28.5°C (Aug.) (Lemoalle, 1987) | ||
pH: | 7.63–9.50 | |
Ionic composition: (controlled by drainage and sea water influx) | ||
Cl | 0.44–23.24 g/l | |
PO4-P | 9–840 μ/l | |
NO2 | 4.9–204 μ/l | |
SiO2 | 0.6–7.5 μ/l | |
Alkalinity: | 183–235 mg/l |
Fig. 8. EDKU LAGOON
(Lemoalle, 1987)
Fisheries data | ||
Fish species: | main catches in 1982: | (Lemoalle, 1987) |
“tilapias” | 82% | |
Anguilla anguilla | 10% | |
Mugil sp. | 6% | |
Total annual catch and effort: |
Year | Total catch (t) | No.of fishermen | No.of boats |
1972 | 5 800 | - | - |
1973–74 | - | - | - |
1975 | 4 008 | - | - |
1976 | 4 160 | 3 000 | 1 660 |
1977–81 | - | - | - |
1982 | 7 770 | - | - |
not specified | - | 4 030* | 1 650** |
* (Shaheen, et al., 1980)
** (Ferlin, 1980)
Potential annual yield: (Sadek, 1984)
4 000 t/yr
45 kg/ha/yr
GREAT BITTER LAGOON
Geographical data | |
Location: | Egypt - 30° 26'N; 32° 23'E |
Surface area: | 180 km2 |
Max. length: | 22 km |
Max. width: | 11.5 km |
Inflow/Outflow: | Suez Canal in the north. Connected to Little Bitter Lagoon in the south. |
LITTLE BITTER LAGOON
Geographical data | |
Location: | Egypt - 30° 14'N; 32° 32'E |
Surface area: | 42 km2 |
Max. length: | 15 km |
Max. width: | 4 km |
Inflow/Outflow: | Suez Canal in the south. Connected to Great Bitter Lagoon in the north. |