Characteristics of purse seine fisheries in the Egyptian Mediterranean waters: A case study of Abu Qir Bay

This study comprehensively assesses purse seine fisheries in Abu Qir Bay, a key fishing ground on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast. The study utilized semi-structured interviews, field observations, and gear analysis to document vessel specifications, fishing operations, and catch composition for night-l...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: EL-Sira, Ibrahim, Walid, Elsawy Aly, El-Far, Alaa, Younis, Alaa, Nasr-Allah, Ahmed
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Elsevier 2025
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/177768
_version_ 1855515779507683328
author EL-Sira, Ibrahim
Walid, Elsawy Aly
El-Far, Alaa
Younis, Alaa
Nasr-Allah, Ahmed
author_browse EL-Sira, Ibrahim
El-Far, Alaa
Nasr-Allah, Ahmed
Walid, Elsawy Aly
Younis, Alaa
author_facet EL-Sira, Ibrahim
Walid, Elsawy Aly
El-Far, Alaa
Younis, Alaa
Nasr-Allah, Ahmed
author_sort EL-Sira, Ibrahim
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description This study comprehensively assesses purse seine fisheries in Abu Qir Bay, a key fishing ground on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast. The study utilized semi-structured interviews, field observations, and gear analysis to document vessel specifications, fishing operations, and catch composition for night-light and daylight purse seine fisheries. Of the nine vessels examined in the present study, five were consistent with their official designation as purse seiners, while the remaining four were recorded under alternative classifications, including longliners and trawlers. These inconsistencies suggest that economic considerations can influence fishers’ decisions regarding gear selection and operational strategies. Night-light nets measured 275–330 m in length and 91–110 m in depth, whereas daylight nets were larger (366–403 m in length) but shallower (54–70 m in depth). The main body of both net types had an 8.5 mm mesh length, which is far below sustainable recommendations. Small pelagic fishes, particularly Engraulis encrasicolus and Sardinella aurita, dominated the catch across all seasons, with night-light operations peaking in summer and daylight fishing more active in spring and autumn. While technological advancements have improved vessel efficiency and catch per unit effort, they have also intensified fishing pressure. Overfishing, overcapacity, and the use of small mesh sizes may present challenges to long-term sustainability. The results suggest opportunities to strengthen existing regulatory frameworks and to prioritize the design and enforcement of targeted management interventions. This paper recommends adopting a legal minimum mesh size of 25.7 mm and promoting an ecosystem-based management framework to help address overfishing, enhance stock productivity, and support the long-term sustainability of purse seine fisheries in Abu Qir Bay.
format Journal Article
id CGSpace177768
institution CGIAR Consortium
language Inglés
publishDate 2025
publishDateRange 2025
publishDateSort 2025
publisher Elsevier
publisherStr Elsevier
record_format dspace
spelling CGSpace1777682025-12-02T10:59:51Z Characteristics of purse seine fisheries in the Egyptian Mediterranean waters: A case study of Abu Qir Bay EL-Sira, Ibrahim Walid, Elsawy Aly El-Far, Alaa Younis, Alaa Nasr-Allah, Ahmed fishing gear sardinella aurita engraulis encrasicolus fish fisheries management gfcm-gsa 26 regulatory compliance This study comprehensively assesses purse seine fisheries in Abu Qir Bay, a key fishing ground on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast. The study utilized semi-structured interviews, field observations, and gear analysis to document vessel specifications, fishing operations, and catch composition for night-light and daylight purse seine fisheries. Of the nine vessels examined in the present study, five were consistent with their official designation as purse seiners, while the remaining four were recorded under alternative classifications, including longliners and trawlers. These inconsistencies suggest that economic considerations can influence fishers’ decisions regarding gear selection and operational strategies. Night-light nets measured 275–330 m in length and 91–110 m in depth, whereas daylight nets were larger (366–403 m in length) but shallower (54–70 m in depth). The main body of both net types had an 8.5 mm mesh length, which is far below sustainable recommendations. Small pelagic fishes, particularly Engraulis encrasicolus and Sardinella aurita, dominated the catch across all seasons, with night-light operations peaking in summer and daylight fishing more active in spring and autumn. While technological advancements have improved vessel efficiency and catch per unit effort, they have also intensified fishing pressure. Overfishing, overcapacity, and the use of small mesh sizes may present challenges to long-term sustainability. The results suggest opportunities to strengthen existing regulatory frameworks and to prioritize the design and enforcement of targeted management interventions. This paper recommends adopting a legal minimum mesh size of 25.7 mm and promoting an ecosystem-based management framework to help address overfishing, enhance stock productivity, and support the long-term sustainability of purse seine fisheries in Abu Qir Bay. 2025-11-11T05:50:59Z 2025-11-11T05:50:59Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/177768 en Open Access application/pdf Elsevier Ibrahim EL-Sira, Elsawy Aly Walid, Alaa El-Far, Alaa Younis, Ahmed Nasr-Allah. (6/6/2025). Characteristics of purse seine fisheries in the Egyptian Mediterranean waters: A case study of Abu Qir Bay. Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Research.
spellingShingle fishing gear
sardinella aurita
engraulis encrasicolus
fish
fisheries management
gfcm-gsa 26
regulatory compliance
EL-Sira, Ibrahim
Walid, Elsawy Aly
El-Far, Alaa
Younis, Alaa
Nasr-Allah, Ahmed
Characteristics of purse seine fisheries in the Egyptian Mediterranean waters: A case study of Abu Qir Bay
title Characteristics of purse seine fisheries in the Egyptian Mediterranean waters: A case study of Abu Qir Bay
title_full Characteristics of purse seine fisheries in the Egyptian Mediterranean waters: A case study of Abu Qir Bay
title_fullStr Characteristics of purse seine fisheries in the Egyptian Mediterranean waters: A case study of Abu Qir Bay
title_full_unstemmed Characteristics of purse seine fisheries in the Egyptian Mediterranean waters: A case study of Abu Qir Bay
title_short Characteristics of purse seine fisheries in the Egyptian Mediterranean waters: A case study of Abu Qir Bay
title_sort characteristics of purse seine fisheries in the egyptian mediterranean waters a case study of abu qir bay
topic fishing gear
sardinella aurita
engraulis encrasicolus
fish
fisheries management
gfcm-gsa 26
regulatory compliance
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/177768
work_keys_str_mv AT elsiraibrahim characteristicsofpurseseinefisheriesintheegyptianmediterraneanwatersacasestudyofabuqirbay
AT walidelsawyaly characteristicsofpurseseinefisheriesintheegyptianmediterraneanwatersacasestudyofabuqirbay
AT elfaralaa characteristicsofpurseseinefisheriesintheegyptianmediterraneanwatersacasestudyofabuqirbay
AT younisalaa characteristicsofpurseseinefisheriesintheegyptianmediterraneanwatersacasestudyofabuqirbay
AT nasrallahahmed characteristicsofpurseseinefisheriesintheegyptianmediterraneanwatersacasestudyofabuqirbay