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EGY-GAP: A Practical Step Toward Better Aquaculture Practices in Egypt

As part of the “Promoting Sustainable and Resilient Aquaculture” (PRO-SURE-AQUA) project, the Lake and Fish Resources Protection and Development Agency, in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), held an extensive workshop to introduce EGY-GAP, Egypt’s national certification system for Good Aquaculture Practices. The workshop was attended by senior representatives of the National Company for Fisheries and Aquaculture (NCFA), the Suez Canal Aquaculture Company, as well as aquaculture consultants and experts, fish farm owners, representatives of feed manufacturers, and companies marketing veterinary medicines and feed additives.

The workshop was inaugurated by Prof. Dr. Ahmed Soni, Head of the Central Administration for Production and Operations and General Supervisor of the Program’s Implementation. In his opening remarks, he welcomed the participants and praised Egyptian-Japanese cooperation. He also delivered a presentation providing an overview of the project and highlighting its importance to Egypt’s aquaculture sector, emphasizing the need for coordinated efforts to achieve sustainable development. Dr. Amany Ahmed, Director General of the General Department of Veterinary Affairs and Program Manager, provided a detailed explanation of the program’s implementation components, outlining how traceability and biosecurity systems can be applied on fish farms as key pillars for ensuring the safety and quality of Egyptian aquaculture products.

Dr. Walaa Magdy, Director of the Quality, Central Laboratories, and Certification Unit, delivered a presentation outlining the unit’s role in assessing farms and issuing certifications in accordance with international standards. She also highlighted the role of the Central Laboratories and their ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation as an essential element of quality control, supporting the farm coding and identification system. These measures are fundamental to product safety and to enhancing the competitiveness of Egyptian aquaculture products in both domestic and international markets.

Dr. Doaa El-Khouly from the General Department of Veterinary Affairs, together with Eng. Maher Nagi, Executive Director of Mirrorful Software House (Mirrorful), the company responsible for developing the digital platform, delivered a detailed presentation on the EGY-GAP digital platform and its accompanying electronic application. They explained the online registration and certification procedures, emphasizing that digital transformation in this sector is no longer merely a technological convenience, but an essential component of building trust, improving operational efficiency, and making good aquaculture practices a sustainable part of day-to-day operations.

The workshop emphasized the importance of continued cooperation and coordination between the relevant departments, particularly the General Department of Veterinary Affairs and the Quality and Central Laboratories Department, to establish an integrated system that begins at the farm and ends with a safe product that complies with local and international standards. This integrated approach helps ensure product safety and opens new opportunities for export.

This activity coincides with the appointment of Prof. Dr. Ahmed Abdel Wahab Gabr as Executive Director of the Agency, a strategic step aimed at strengthening technical and administrative efficiency and supporting the implementation of international standards. These efforts are being carried forward under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Salah El-Din Meselhy, Chairman of the Board, who continues to support the development and modernization of Egypt’s fisheries and aquaculture sector.