**9. Future of freshwater fish production of the Nile basin**

Without exception, the freshwater fisheries in the Nile basin countries are under severe and constantly stressful conditions. The Nile fisheries have continued to deteriorate despite its impressive freshwater resources and the many efforts by national and regional institutions with national and international support. This decline is mainly due to the rapid increase in population densities surrounding the water bodies of the Nile basin, which has negatively influenced the water quality of these basins and their fisheries. In addition, overexploitation of the fish resources has advantaged non-commercial and invasive species in their competition with native and economically valuable ones. The lack of regulatory fishing plans and man‐ agement policy in most of the Nile basin fisheries has also added complexity to any future strategic plans to safeguard such valuable resources. In order to manage this important sector along the Nile basin there is a need to:

**•** Make appropriate information data available to guide decision makers

only for the Nile perch. Other estimates included Nile tilapia from other countries bordering the lake (Kenya and Tanzania). These account for a total catch of 110 metric tons. However, the difference in value is marked, since the Nile perch is exported to EU countries, while the other species and small size Nile perch are locally consumed or regionally exported at lower prices. Recent statistics on the annual total fish production of the three countries (Kenya,

**Figure 7.** Growth trends in total fish production in Egypt (marine and freshwater catch) compared with aquaculture

1975

1980

**Year**

1985

1990

1995

2000

2005

In Sudan freshwater fisheries contribute very little to the national economy, especially as the estimated fish consumption per capita is only 1.7 kg year -1. In general, the fishing industry in 2003 is estimated to have exported 1,629 tons of fish with a value of US\$ 533,000, while a quantity of 157 tons was imported for local consumption at a cost of US\$ 324,000. This means that the total earnings from fish production did not exceed US\$ 200,000 representing only 0.4%

As previously highlighted, Egyptian fisheries, including both natural fisheries and aquacul‐ ture represent the largest producers of freshwater fishes within the Nile basin countries. This is mainly due to the rapid growth in freshwater aquaculture production, amounting to about 60% of the national total fish catch (Figure 7). Despite high fish production, the fishing industry plays a relatively minor direct role in the economy of Egypt. Nevertheless, domestic fish production makes a valuable contribution to the national food supply and to the traditional way of life, for which fish eating remains an important part. In addition, it is a significant source

Tanzania and Uganda) from Lake Victoria is amounted to 960, 500 tones [30]

of the national GDP [13].

0

1950

1955

1960

1965

1970

Fish Production Aquaculture

200000

during the period 1950-2005 [14].

400000

600000

**Tons/Year**

800000

1000000

366 Biodiversity - The Dynamic Balance of the Planet

of food for the tourist industry.


The poverty of many of the diverse populations living along the Nile basin remains a barrier to the implementation of concepts of natural resources conservation, despite the many efforts of governments and NGO's to disseminate this information.

Faced with a continuing large gap between global supply and demand for fish protein, with critical shortage in some regions, aquaculture is widely regarded as having a crucial role to play in meeting global and regional food requirements over the next 20 years. Aquaculture can be a water efficient means of food production, and also brings wider resources manage‐ ment benefits. To this end, it is advisable that the Nile basin countries take advantage of the existing water resources and encourage the private sector in implementing aquaculture activities as an actual and future alternative of animal protein and as a substitute for the degraded natural fisheries of the Nile basin.
