An Overview of the Implication of Climate Change on Fish Farming in Egypt

Aquaculture is an important component of the human diet, providing high-quality aquatic food for global or local consumption. Egypt is one of the countries most vulnerable to the potential impacts of climate change (CC), especially in the aquaculture sector. CC is one of the biggest challenges of our time and has negatively affected different water bodies. CC leads to the combination of changes in water availability, a decrease in water quality, the movement of salt water upstream due to rising sea levels, and the salinization of groundwater supplies will threaten inland freshwater aquaculture. Similarly, higher temperatures resulting from CC lead to reduce dissolved oxygen levels, increased fish metabolic rates, increased risk of disease spread, increased fish mortality, and consequently decreased fish production. CC may also indirectly affect aquaculture activities; for example, large areas of lowland aquaculture ponds can be highly vulnerable to flooding from rising sea levels. Thus, the current overview will briefly discuss the state of the aquaculture sector in Egypt, the meaning of CC, its causes, and its effects on the different elements of the aquaculture sector, and finally, we will review the appropriate ways to mitigate the adverse effects of CC on fish farming, especially in Egypt.

Automated summary

Aquaculture plays a crucial role in providing high-quality aquatic food for consumption worldwide. However, the aquaculture sector in Egypt is highly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change. Climate change leads to changes in water availability, decreased water quality, saltwater intrusion, and salinization of groundwater, which pose threats to freshwater aquaculture. Additionally, higher temperatures not only reduce dissolved oxygen levels but also increase disease spread and fish mortality, resulting in decreased fish production. Flooding from rising sea levels further affects aquaculture activities in lowland areas. This article provides an overview of the aquaculture sector in Egypt, explains climate change and its causes, discusses its effects on different aspects of aquaculture, and reviews mitigation strategies to minimize the negative impacts of climate change on fish farming, particularly in Egypt.