Qarun Lake fisheries; Fishing gears, Species composition and Catch per unit effort

Abstract

Qarun Lake is a closed salty basin located about 90km southern Cairo Egypt, cover an area of 230km 2 with annual production of about 3000 tonnes. The present study assessed the lake fishery for better management purpose. Data, information and samples were collected through 42 field trips and 311 fishermen interviews during fishing season (2010-2011). The lake was divided into three sub-areas, east, middle and west. It was found that the fishing gears used in the lake were; 1-Trammel nets with four types differed in their dimensions, mesh sizes and mainly targeting Mugil cephalus, Tilapia zillii, Solea spp. and Liza spp. 2-Seine nets with three types that were targeting M. cephalus, anchovy and shrimp. 3-Others fishing methods (Fishing aggregation system, traps and hooks) targeting mainly T. zillii. For each gear and methods used, the species composition (target and by-catch) and catch per unit effort were estimated according to sub-area and season. It is realized that middle area was more productive with higher species diversity. The present study recommends prohibiting traps in spring and all seine nets except Gahzl Zardina during summer in west and improving the fish catch and effort statistics for sustainable management of this valuable resource.

State of Fisheries in Lake Qarun, Egypt: Review Article

“…The commercial total annual catch decreased from 4000 tonnes during 1920 to an average of 1-2 thousand tonnes in subsequent years (El-Serafy et al, 2014).…”

“…2-Seine nets with three types and targeting M. cephalus, anchovy and shrimp. 3-Others fishing methods (Fishing aggregation system, traps and hooks) targeting mainly T. zillii (El-Serafy et al, 2014). Krzebietke et al, (2016) reported that, the main fishing equipment used in the lake was trammel nets, beach seines, hand lines and traps.…”

“…Liza saliens, Solea spp. and shrimps were succeeded to acclimatize and spawn in the lake (El-Serafy et al, 2014). On the other hand, some species like, Atherina spp.…”

“…El -Serafy et al, (2014) studied Qarun Lake fisheries; Fishing gears, Species composition and Catch per unit effort. They concluded that the species composition for the mostly used gear in Lake Qarun as follow Mugil cephalus , Liza ramada and Liza saliens,Solea spp., Tilapia zillii, Gobius niger, Dicentrarchus labrax and Engraulis encrasicolus and shrimps.…”

“…Since the beginning of 20 th century, several investigations have been done concerning Lake Qarun fisheries including those of Wimpenny and Faouzi (1935), Faouzi (1936), Wimpenny (1936), , El-Zarka and El-Sadafy (1967), Boraey (1974), Abdel-Malek (1980;1982), Ishak et al (1982), Sweilum (1989), Mosaad (1990), Gabr (1998), El-Shabrawy and Fishar (1999) and El-Serafy et al (2014). However, these studies are still scarce and fragmentary (Konsowa, 2006).…”