FISHERY ASSESSMENT SURVEY OF LAKE MANZALA, EGYPT.

FISHERY ASSESSMENT SURVEY OF LAKE MANZALA, EGYPT.
MAGDY T. KIIALIL*AND A. REf AI Bi\ YOU MI **.
* Faculty of Science. Ain Shams University.

** National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries. Cairo.

AI3STRACT
The open water fishery of Lake Manzala
occupies an area of about 21.3000 feddans
and employs about 17.000 fisher~~n using
4.000 boats. The fishery is essentially
artisana1 and non-mechanized. The current
estimated annual yield is about 41.000 t;
87 S of this is Tllapia and 3 S is high
value mullet. Open fishery yields. on a
per unit area basis. are closely related
to water nutrient levels. The highest annual
yields of over one t/feddan are obtained
in the southern area of Lake Manza1a. in
the vicinity of the mouth of 8ahr El-8aqar
Drain. Low yields of less than 50 Kg/feddan
are found in the areas to the west and
northwest. outside the influence of
drainwater. Intermediate yields of about
150 Kg/feddan are obtained in the eastern
area. where the inf1-uence of drainwater
is moderate. The true sign ifi cance of these
yield levels may be appreciated iiy a
comparison with other African inland water
fisheries. which have the most annual yields
fa 11 in the range of 40 to 100 Kg/feddan