Egypt also has a significant fishing industry that is im-
portant for three key reasons. First, many of the coastal commu-
nities bordering the Red Sea and Mediterranean coast depend
on income from fishing. It also is important to millions of
residents living along the Nile River. Second, fishing represents
a traditional folk economic activity that has been practiced
for millennia. Finally, fish provide a “free” source of protein to
many people who, because of their poverty, otherwise would
be hard-pressed to obtain meat. During recent decades, some
environmental problems have emerged that affect fishing. For
instance, the Aswan Dam has blocked nutrients that previously
were discharged into the Nile Delta and Mediterranean. This
has caused several species of economically viable fish to disap-
pear. Inland lakes including Lake Nasser and Lake Qarun have
been sources of fish for the interior regions, although increased
salinization has caused a sharp decline in the fish yield of Lake
Qarun. Fish is an important item in the diet of many Egyptians
and modern technologies including deep freezing and salting
techniques have helped fish consumption to spread even to the
rural interior.