ANALYSIS OF EGYPTIAN MARINE AND LAGOON FI SHERY LANDINGS IN RELATION TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ASWAN-DAM

Annually exploited communities from the Nile delta and two nearby lago ons (Manzalah and Edkou) were monitored from 1962 to 1989. The changes in community structure were analysed as a function of two events: fis hing pressure growth (motorized fishing vessels) which increased by a factor of 19 between 1952 and 1962; and the construction of the Aswan Dam, which was built between 1965 and 1969, reducing the flow of the N ile by 90 %. Before the construction of the dam, increased sea fishing pressure led to a decline in landings from 33,832 tons in 1962 to 8,5 22 tons in 1969, but with no structural change in the exploited commun ity. However, following completion of the dam in 1969, the community s tructure changed and a significant correlation was detected between la ndings and community diversity. After 1978, a period of variability in landings and the simultaneous reorganization of the communities occur red. By 1989, fish landings reached 32,025 tons, a level recorded befo re tile construction of the Aswan dam In contrast With the previous pe riod, there Was no longer a significant correlation between community structure and catches. Quantitative variations were observed in Manzal ah Lagoon landings but with no modification in community structure. Co n-elation between diversity and catches was found only in the Edkou La goon.