An Economic Analysis of Fish Wealth in Egypt

The research aimed to analyze the current status of fish production in Egypt from different sources. The study relied on quantitative and qualitative analytical statistical methods. It was found that the total fish production from natural fisheries represented only about 20.16% of the total fish production in Egypt. The results revealed a diversity of fish species produced on a commercial scale, with approximately 84.57% focused on three main types: tilapia, mullet, and sea bream. The most important variables affecting the quantity of fish production from natural fisheries was the number of fishermen and the number of mechanized fishing boats. Increasing these variables by 10% leads to an increase in the quantity of fish production from fisheries by 0.50 and 0.21%, respectively. The area of ​​farms, the quantity of fish hatcheries production, and the real value of fry are considered the most important variables affecting the quantity of farmed fish production from fish farming. Increasing both hatcheries production quantity and the area of ​​farms by 10% leads to an increase in the quantity of aquaculture production by 0.66 and 0.45%, respectively, while decreasing the real value of fry by 10% leads to an increase in the quantity of aquaculture production by 0.34%. The most important variables affecting the total quantity of fish consumption are the real retail price of red meat, the real retail price of tilapia, and the quantity of fish imports. It was found that a 10% decrease in the real retail price of tilapia leads to an increase in the quantity of fish consumption by 0.90%, while increasing both the real retail price of red meat and the quantity of fish imports by 10% leads to an increase in fish consumption by 3.2% and 1.96%, respectively.