Population Dynamics Parameters and Exploitation Status of 55 Commercial Species in Egyptian Red Sea Fisheries: A Key to Sustainable Fisheries

Abstract

Egyptian Red Sea fisheries face the same challenges as most of the world’s fisheries, including overexploitation, habitat loss, IUU fishing, pollution, and climate change. These fisheries are highly diverse with multiple species targeted by multiple fleets, using different fishing gears. Much work has been performed in recent years to assess Red Sea fish stocks. However, not all fish stocks in the Egyptian Red Sea are assessed, and those that are assessed only cover 30% of landings. The assessments are unbalanced by area, with the Gulf of Suez being much better covered than the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba. The results show that most of the analyzed stocks are overexploited. There is an urgent need to take action to protect, conserve, and restore the different fish stocks in different fishing grounds. These actions will ensure the sustainability of the fisheries, making them ecologically friendly and economically and socially efficient.