An Overview of the European eel Anguilla anguilla Fisheries in Egypt

Azza A. El Ganainy, National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, NIOF, Cairo, EgyptFollow
Mohamed S. Ahmed, Faculty of Aquaculture and Marine Fisheries, Al Arish University, Egypt
Mohamed F. Osman, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
Amany A. Mahmoud, National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, NIOF, Cairo, Egypt

Article Type

Research Article

Subject Area

Fisheries Science

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to give for the first time an overview of the geographic, seasonal and intraspecific variations in European eel (Anguilla Anguilla) stock in the Egyptian different habitats. The geographical distribution, general status as well as stocks temporal variation in Egypt are analyzed examining long term catch data sets. European eels are found in the Nile Delta and along the Mediterranean coast, occupying the brackish northern lagoons (Edko, Burullus, Manzala) and the hyper saline Bardawil lagoon. Annual total eel landings from 2013 to 2022 fluctuated, with a maximum of 1268 tons recorded in Burullus Lagoon and a minimum of 0.68 tons in Bardawil Lagoon in 2020. Brackish lagoons which were classified as hypereutrophic (Edko, Burullus and Manzala) were the habitat type recording the most landings in Egypt. The average productivity during the last ten years from the different eel’s fisheries resources showed that Burullus lagoon was the most productive habitat (24.24 kg ha-1) followed by Edko (5.02 kg ha-1). Nile River came in the third grade by 1.4 kg ha-1 followed by Manzala lagoon (0.37 kg ha-1) and the least productive habitat during the last ten years was Bardawil lagoon (0.20 kg ha-1). Mainly two fishing gears are used in the different Egyptian fisheries resources for the exploitation of European eel, Fyke nets and long lines. The results indicated that Catch/effort was significantly different across different habitats and the highest average catch/day/fisher during the last 10 years was recorded in Edko lagoon (4.75 kg/day/fisher), followed by Bardawil lagoon (4.25 kg/day/fisher). The least Catch/effort was recorded in Manzala lagoon (1.12 kg/day/fisher). The study concluded that according to the critical status of the European eel nationally and internationally, further studies, collaborative scientific monitoring and integrated management actions targeting both fisheries and habitat conservation should be conducted.

Full Text of Submission

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Recommended Citation

Ganainy, Azza A. El; Ahmed, Mohamed S.; Osman, Mohamed F.; and Mahmoud, Amany A. (2025) "An Overview of the European eel Anguilla anguilla Fisheries in Egypt," Blue Economy: Vol. 3 : Iss. 2 , Article 5.
Available at: https://doi.org/10.57241/2805-2994.1043