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FAO Fisheries Circular No. 919 FIPP/C919

Rome, 1996

ISSN 0429-9329

FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE IN THE NEAR EAST AND NORTH AFRICA: SITUATION AND OUTLOOK IN 1996
by
Fisheries Department
FAO, Rome, Italy

PREPARATION OF THIS PAPER
The FAO Fisheries Department has prepared a major review entitled the State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture, which includes eight regional summaries. This Fisheries Circular provides more detailed information for the region of the Near East and North Africa and was used as a basis for preparation of the summary for that region for the State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture.

The preparation of the Circular has been the responsibility of a Departmental Working Group consisting of: J. Prado (FIIT), A.R. Smith (FIIT), J.M. Kapetsky (FIRI), Z. Shehadeh (FIRI), H. Ben Alaya (FIPL) and R. Shotton (FIRM). The Working Group has been led by G.V. Everett (FIPP) who was also the principal writer.

The Departmental Working Group wishes to acknowledge the contributions made by R.J. Grainger (FIDI).

The FAO Fisheries Circular is a vehicle for the distribution of short or ephemeral notes, lists, etc., including provisional versions of documents to be issued later in other series.

 

FAO Fisheries Department.
Fisheries and aquaculture in the Near East and North Africa: situation and outlook in 1996.
FAO Fisheries Circular. No. 919. Rome, FAO. 1996. 37p.

ABSTRACT
No country in the region depends on fish and fish products as a mainstay of the economy, and fish consumption is generally low relative to meat. Morocco has the most abundant resources available both for human consumption, and as a basis for the fish processing industry. It seems unlikely there are under-exploited stocks left in the Mediterranean. In the Gulfs region it is probable that mesopelagic stocks could withstand increased exploitation. Aquaculture production is less than one per cent of total world production. Assuming that fish consumption in the region remains relatively low by world standards, it would seem reasonable to expect that, at least until 2010, the increased demand could be met from higher landings of fish in the region if it is not diverted for export. Improved management should allow increased catches of certain stocks which are exploited intensively at present, and small pelagic resources in particular should form a basis for increased landings throughout the region.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION A. CURRENT FISHERIES SITUATION
1. THE ROLE OF FISHERIES IN THE ECONOMY AND SOCIETY
2. THE FISHERIES SECTOR - SITUATION AND TRENDS
2.1 Marine resources
2.2 Aquaculture
2.3 Inland fisheries
2.4 Fish utilization, distribution and trade
2.5 Consumption and food/nutrition security
2.6 International trade of fishery products
2.7 Technology and infrastructure
2.8 Investments in the fishery sector
3. POLICY AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK
3.1 Macroeconomics and fisheries sector policies
3.2 Policies for conservation and management
3.3 Regional fisheries arrangements and organizations
3.4 National fisheries administration
3.5 Fisheries research and training
3.6 Economic and technical cooperation
SECTION B. ISSUES
1. DISCARDS
2. USE OF SMALL PELAGICS
3. MANAGEMENT OF EXCESS FISHING CAPACITY
4. PROBLEMS FACING FISHERY MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATIONS
5. RESEARCH RELATED TO CAPTURE FISHERIES
6. AQUACULTURE RESEARCH NEEDS AND ISSUES
SECTION C. OUTLOOK
TABLE 1. Population, GNP per caput, and landings in 1994
FIGURES
1. Fishery production
2. Aquaculture information
3. Fishery imports and exports for major trading countries in 1994
4. Imports and exports of major fishery commodities in 1993
5. Value of fishery exports by country
6. Value of fishery imports by country
7. Value of exports by major fishery commodity groups
8. Value of imports by major fishery commodity groups
9. Fish utilization and food supply
10. Role of fish in proteins supply