Eritrea's Coastal Marine and Island Biodiversity Conservation Project

foreign vessels from Egyptian and Saudi Arabia fishing companies. Such activity is based on annual contractual agreement. Currently discussions have
started with European Union for fishing agreement.
4.5. Shrimp Fishing
During the 1960s, only about 30 tons of shrimp were landed from Zula and Hirgigo bays (Ben Yami, 1975). Nevertheless, various surveys showed that
large quantities of shrimp exist in several areas along the Eritrean coast. Surveys conducted in 1990s with local trawlers indicates potential fishing
grounds exist around Dahlak area as a result of which shrimp harvest (landing) showed a dramatic increase. In 1998, only 9 tons of shrimp had been
harvested. By intensifying fishing in 1999, the production increased to 75 tons, then the annual catch was 520 tons in 2000, 790 in 2001, 512 in 2002,
450 in 2003 and 400 in 2004 (Research and Statistics Division, Data base, 2005). Much of the shrimps being harvested are from the family of
Penaeidae (such as Penaeus semisulcatus, P. japonicus and P. latisulcatus).
4.6. Sea Cucumber Collection
There is no custom of eating sea cucumber (local name Hedra) in Eritrea. Until 2003, sea cucumber fishing was done in small scale by some local
artisanal fishermen and the harvest was sent primarily to Yemen. The collection was done by skin diving only in shallow waters. The legal landing
never exceeded 82 tons up to 2002. Starting in 2004, local investors have become involved in the business, and hence scuba dive fishing was
introduced. This is carried out using scuba equipment and air compressors from onboard fishing boats. The harvest increased to over 300 tons in 2004
(National Fisheries Corporation -NFC).
4.7. Aquaculture and Mariculture
The first aquaculture initiative was developed during the armed struggle for Independence in the late 1980’s. Milkfish, mullet and tilapia were grown in
ponds in the northern part of the Eritrean Red Sea. After independence, small-scale research oriented efforts were made to culture mullet, artemia and
others under the Ministry of Fisheries.
The objective was to develop, produce and market aquacultural and agri-products using integrated seawater farming and proper technologies in order
to generate wealth, improve human welfare and enhance environment. The concept of integrated seawater farming developed by the Seawater Farms
Company claimed to be different and environmentally enhancing unlike most conventional aquaculture practice functions in three main integrated
components. The front end, the aquaculture component, receives pumped seawater to grow shrimps and fish. The mid part, the halophyte agriculture,
reuses effluent from the aquaculture farm to irrigate fields of salicornia, a saltwater oil-seed crop. The last component is the creation of wetlands that
State of the Coast Eritrea, 2006-2007 26