Value Chain Analysis of Fisheries in Aswan, Upper Egypt

Suggested Bibliographic Reference: Challenging New Frontiers in the Global Seafood Sector: Proceedings of the Eighteenth Biennial Conference of the International Institute of Fisheries Economics and Trade, July 11-15, 2016. Compiled by Stefani J. Evers and Ann L. Shriver. International Institute of Fisheries Economics and Trade (IIFET), Corvallis, 2016.Proceedings of the Eighteenth Biennial Conference of the International Institute of Fisheries Economics and Trade, held July 11-15, 2016 at Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Center (AECC), Aberdeen, Scotland, UK.Lake Nasser extends for more than 300 km inside Egypt`s border and has an extensive shoreline of around 7000 km. It is an important source of fish for residents of Aswan and adjacent governorates in Upper Egypt, representing 55% of the total production from inland lakes in Egypt in 2013. In order to improve understanding of Egyptian fisheries, this study presents the outputs of a value chain analysis of Lake Nasser. Individual interviews and focus group discussions with fishers, traders (middle, wholesalers, and retailers) and processors were used to collect quantitative and qualitative information about financial performance, employment creation and critical factors impacting on performance of each node throughout the chain. Information included species, catch methods, average catch sizes, the number of fishers involved in the fishery, fishing costs and selling prices at each node of the value chain. The analysis covered both fresh fish and traditionally salted fish known locally as muluha. The study found that all fish caught and processed is destined for local consumption. Each hundred metric tons of fish caught and sold generates an average of 29.99 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs. Focus group discussions with a range of value chain actors identified a series of factors limiting performance of the value chain and possible opportunities for improvement. The study provides recommendations for support to the fisheries sector in Aswan to be taken up by fisheries organizations, regulatory authorities and civil society