Biofouling is the accumulation of bacterial growth, algae, and sessile invertebrates on any submerged surface. To combat fouling ships must constantly undergo cleaning up and maintenance processes. Protecting boat hulls against biofouling is a compelling necessity, not only to prevent material corrosion and degradation but also to maintain the proper maneuverability of the boats, thereby ensuring safety at sea. Antifouling paints are widely used to counteract this problem, using toxic substances such as copper-containing paints, which negatively impact marine organisms. Raising the awareness of fishermen about this problem and encouraging them to use eco-friendly antifouling paints is of great importance; environmentally and economically.
Initiative: Antifouling Paints:Environmental Hazards and Alternatives (Abu-Qir Bay Fishermen Community Outreach Workshop) on AASTMT webpage
Students at the College of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology have participated in the First International Conference of the Institute of Genetic Engineering Research "Challenges and New Prospects in Biotechnology Sciences" at the City of Scientific Research and Technological
Applications. That was evaluated as the best poster presented at the conference.
College of Fisheries Technology & Aquaculture Technology-Alexandria | AASTMT on AASTMT webpage
One of the main causes of the reductions in maritime wildlife populations is fishing. Fishing is not intrinsically harmful to the ocean, except fishing vessels overfish, which occurs when they take fish faster than the stocks can recover.
Globally, the number of overfished stocks has risen in the last 50 years, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations estimates that a third of the world's assessed fisheries are currently overfished biologically. Bycatch, or the undesirable marine life caught when fishing for a different species, is directly related to overfishing. This is another major marine concern that kills hundreds of thousands of sea turtles, cetaceans, and billions of fish. The harm caused by overfishing extends outside of the maritime domain. Fish is the primary source of nourishment for billions of people worldwide, and for millions more, fishing is their main source of income. A significant number of individuals who earn a living from fishing are striving to enhance global ocean resource management and conservation efforts. In order to improve fisheries management internationally, WWF collaborates with a wide range of stakeholders, emphasizing sustainable methods that preserve ecosystems while preserving livelihoods and guaranteeing food security.
For the previously mentioned, AASTMT as a leading university within the region; represented by the College of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, took the initiative to familiarize the local fishermen with the threats and adverse effects of overfishing.
Overfishing Community Awareness on AASTMT webpage
