Aquaculture Project grew out of an agreement between the Egyptian government and the United States Agency for International Development(USAID). On September 7, 1978, an agreement was signed between USAID and The Government of Egypt to participate in this project. A Presidential decree no 70 for 1979 was issued to confirm approval of the agreement .The Project had its beginning as the National Aquaculture Center, established to provide leadership in research, training and extension in applied aquaculture.