Deputy Minister of Agriculture for Animal, Poultry and Fish Resources Mona Mehrez said on Friday that by 2022 Egypt will produce 2.2 million tons of fish per year.
The total annual fish production is currently 1.64 million tons, of which 1.2 million is obtained through farming, and 400,000 tons come from the Nile River and canals, according to Mehrez.
Furthermore, Egypt imports 250,000 tons of fish from abroad to meet the demand.
The total production of fish in the Red Sea is 49,642 tons, while the Mediterranean Sea produces up to 58,700 tons.
Speaking to Al-Masry Al-Youm, Mehrez said that the government plans to expand fish production to meet the increasing demand, which stems from the increasing population and the rising prices of meat. According to Mehrez, the total yearly consumption of fish in Egypt is 1.94 million tons.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
