Improving Employment and Income through Development of Egypt’s Aquaculture Sector (IEIDEAS) project

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)-funded Improving Employment and Income through Development of Egypt’s Aquaculture Sector (IEIDEAS) project was implemented by WorldFish in partnership with CARE Egypt and the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation from 2011 to 2014 and later extended to November 2015. The project focused on four governorates with significant aquaculture production (Kafr El Sheikh, Behera, Sharkia and Fayoum) and one governorate (El Mineya), where aquaculture was a new activity. The project was based on a value chain analysis conducted by WorldFish in September 2011 that identified the aquaculture value chain as a significant employer, particularly in rural areas. The analysis suggested that there was scope to increase employment of youth and women in the aquaculture sector The main objective was to increase aquaculture production by 10% and create 10,000 jobs. Other objectives included improving profitability for existing producers, securing employment for women fish retailers, expanding aquaculture in El Mineya and improving the policy environment for aquaculture.

On dangers to rational exploitation and development of the resources of the great lakes of Africa

The major dangers facing the resources of the Great Lakes of Africa include over exploitation, falling species diversity, accumulating pollution, and a probable decline in fishery productivity. These dangers may be viewed as accentuated by: i) Inadequate scientific knowledge on the exploited resources ii) Reluctance to apply even the limited scientific information available, by fishery administrators iii) Constant increase in the demand for fish and other aquatic resources. iv) Lack of commitment to active collaboration and co-operation by riparian states regarding development and management of the shared resources. This paper discusses the above factors in relation to the dangerous trends facing the resources of the Great Lakes of Africa. The discussion is intended to contribute to the promotion of rational and sustainable utilisation of the aquatic resources of these lakes.