Fish is an important food source in Egypt, accounting for 25.3% of the average household’s protein intake. Fish consumption is 23.5 kg/person/year.
Aquaculture is the primary source of fish production in Egypt. In 2014, aquaculture production was over 1.1 million metric tons, accounting for around three-quarters of the country’s total fish production. In the same year, fisheries production was 344,791 metric tons. The sector provides employment for 816,000 people (150,000 in the aquaculture value chain and 666,000 in fisheries).
Tilapia is the species most farmed in the country, which has 115,000 hectares of aquaculture ponds. The majority of the country’s fish production is consumed in the country, providing the equivalent of one fish per person per week. In 2014, just 28,000 metric tons of fish was exported.