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The Egyptian aquaculture sector ranks as the seventh largest in the world and the leading producer in Africa, contributing 67% of the total output of the continent and supplying 78% of domestically produced fish. Despite significant growth, the sector has experienced a production decline since 2020. This review aimed to understand the key challenges behind this decline, assess their impact on aquaculture sustainability, and explore potential solutions to enhance resilience and long-term growth. Significant sustainability challenges include temporary farm removal orders, large-scale water projects exacerbating scarcity, and climate change risks such as coastal flooding, each of which could reduce the production capacity of the sector by 50% or more. The sector relies heavily on illegally collected wild seeds (which account for 34% of production), further weakening its resilience, alongside other pressing constraints aggravated by governance shortcomings. Addressing these issues requires integrated solutions, including genetic improvement, the development of sustainable local feed alternatives, adopting best management practices, and enhancements to existing aquaculture systems. Strengthening governance is crucial for equitable resource distribution, effective regulatory enforcement, and fostering stakeholder collaboration. This review provides a foundation to assist stakeholders in developing strategic plans for the aquaculture sector and reinforcing its contribution to food security and economic development.
Abdel-Hady et al. (Wed,) studied this question.