Challenging the negative perceptions of key stakeholders towards aquaculture sector in Egypt: Evidence-based solutions

Abstract

Key stakeholders in aquaculture play a crucial role in shaping public awareness, policymaking, and decision-making. Therefore, the adoption of certain negative perceptions by this group can pose a challenge to the sustainable management of aquaculture. This study analyzed stakeholder perceptions towards the aquaculture sector, assessing their alignment with scientific evidence through an online survey (n = 400). The results revealed that many stakeholders have negative perceptions towards aquaculture. The location, occupation, and income significantly influenced key stakeholders' perceptions about the quality of farmed fish. These categories claim that farmed fish, especially tilapia, the major farmed species, are of poor quality because of the use of steroid hormones in tilapia sex reversal, which poses potential health risks to consumers. There is also a common belief among key stakeholders that farmed fish are raised in poor-quality water and may feed on animal waste. Additionally, they believe that capture fisheries can meet Egypt’s fish demand, thereby rendering aquaculture unnecessary. Also, fish marketers and traders foster negative perceptions of the quality of farmed fish. Given the potential threat of these perceptions to the future of the sector, appropriate preventive interventions are needed. These interventions include providing evidence-based and transparent information about aquaculture practices and product quality, ensuring effective communication among key stakeholders, adopting a regulatory approach that promotes key stakeholder engagement, supporting collaborative alliances, and establishing clear certification systems, standards, and regulations to ensure compliance measurement. These measures will help address the negative perceptions and ensure the sustainability of the aquaculture sector.