Value chain analysis of small-scale fisheries in the High Dam Lake in Egypt

Although, High Dam Lake small-scale fisheries is an important source of fish for residents of Aswan in Upper Egypt, there is limited information available about the performance of small-scale fisheries value chain. Structured questionnaires with fishers, traders, and processors were used to collect input and output data at each node of the chain. Focus group discussions meeting with stakeholder collected qualitative information about and critical factors influencing performance across the chain. Catch distribution composed mainly from tilapias 75%. While pebbly fish (Alestes spp.) and tigerfish (Hydrocynus spp.) accounts for 13% of catch. Fish processing is an important subsector in lake fisheries. Fishers obtained a relatively low percentage (49%) of the final consumer price. The recorded average catch per fisher 20 kg/day and the average total fishing cost in the three landing sites was EGP 5210 / t. Every 100 metric tons of fish catch and sell provides around 30 full-time equivalent jobs. This study revealed that fish stock is under pressure of overfishing. Critical factors facing the small-scale fisheries and influencing profitability are numerous. This value chain study improves our understanding of the performance of small-scale fisheries and identified limiting factors and action needed to support fisheries development in the lake. Key words: Small-scale fisheries, value chain, tilapia, tigerfish, pebbly fish.