Migrant skills transfer in the aquaculture Migrant skills transfer in the aquaculture industry: industry: The case of Greece and EgyptThe case of Greece and Egypt

Building upon the capacities of an extensive fisheries workforce.

Report on the first six months of project activities: Greece.

Key Port probing (fishermen Key Port probing (fishermen resorts)resorts)

Central Greece Piraeus-Salamis-Lavrion Volos area-Evia

Northern Greece Mihaniona-Kavala-Alexandroupolis

Corinthian bay and western coasts

Aegean islands and Ionian islands

Interviewing Egyptian fishermenInterviewing Egyptian fishermen

Technology learning Technology learning Trade learning Trade learning Questionnaire structuring Questionnaire structuring Questionnaire testing Questionnaire testing Questionnaire validationQuestionnaire validation Survey implementationSurvey implementation Database developmentDatabase development Leader identification Leader identification Potential trainees identificationPotential trainees identification

Activities conducted:

• Our (preliminary) estimate is that 8000 Egyptian migrants are currently employed within fisheries in Greece.

• The quasi-totality of randomly interviewed Egyptian fishermen working in Greece are residents of DUMYAT, (Damietta) region in the northernmost part of the Nile delta.

• To-date , all interviewed fishermen (over 150 ) were found to have a regular legal status in Greece.

• Two broad categories : Green Cards (permanent) and 9 month working visa (circular migration)

• A considerable part of them works in Greece for over 10 years, their mission being to finance the construction of the family house.

• Their total earnings are comparatively high (1200-1600 euros/ per month)

Facts & Findings (1/3)Facts & Findings (1/3)

Computer use is not infrequent among those who have Green cards Computer use is not infrequent among those who have Green cards (over 7 yrs in Greece, aged 25-35).(over 7 yrs in Greece, aged 25-35).

They start migrating at early ages (17-18 yrs old) using kinship They start migrating at early ages (17-18 yrs old) using kinship networking.networking.

Dexterities gained while in Greece have to do mostly with modern Dexterities gained while in Greece have to do mostly with modern machinery fishing equipment.machinery fishing equipment.

Greek language is adequately spoken while writing in Arabic is often Greek language is adequately spoken while writing in Arabic is often inadequateinadequate

Leadership is relatively easy to identify and its expression not Leadership is relatively easy to identify and its expression not infrequent - acclaimed by the group’s behavior infrequent - acclaimed by the group’s behavior

Facts & Findings (2/3)Facts & Findings (2/3)

In recent years a deterioration of job opportunities is In recent years a deterioration of job opportunities is observed due to EU directives for the retirement of observed due to EU directives for the retirement of fishing-boats. fishing-boats.

Greek ship owners are compensated while no Greek ship owners are compensated while no provision is taken for unemployed legal immigrants. provision is taken for unemployed legal immigrants.

Sudden loss of jobs causes frustration and tendency to Sudden loss of jobs causes frustration and tendency to go illegal.go illegal.

Insufficient legal support is observed in case of Insufficient legal support is observed in case of accidents and fraudulent actsaccidents and fraudulent acts

Facts & Findings (3/3)Facts & Findings (3/3)

Leadership (1/3)Leadership (1/3)

Up to two per major port areas x 5 =10Up to two per major port areas x 5 =10

Piraeus, Salamina, Mihaniona, Kavala, AlexandroupolisPiraeus, Salamina, Mihaniona, Kavala, Alexandroupolis One per medium ports x 6 = 6One per medium ports x 6 = 6

Lavrion, Volos Chalkis, Patras, Kilini, MesologiLavrion, Volos Chalkis, Patras, Kilini, Mesologi One per major islands x 6 = 6 One per major islands x 6 = 6

Evvoia, Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Rhodes, CreteEvvoia, Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Rhodes, Crete One per smaller island groups x 2 = 2One per smaller island groups x 2 = 2

Cyclades, Ionian, Cyclades, Ionian,

Tentative spatial distribution

= 24

Leadership (2/3)Leadership (2/3)

Criteria

• Years of work & stay

• Legal status

• Language and communication skills

• Computer literacy

• Onshore residence

• Family status

• Work position on ship

• Broadened trade activities

• Attitude towards our up-skilling project

Planned leadership + info meetingsPlanned leadership + info meetings

Kavala (April 4Kavala (April 4thth) ) Alexandroupolis (April 6Alexandroupolis (April 6thth) ) Michaniona (???) Michaniona (???) Volos ( April , second week)Volos ( April , second week) Salamina (May, second week) Salamina (May, second week) Piraeus, (May third week) Piraeus, (May third week)

*info meetings scheduling is conditional to the supply of info on job opportunities *info meetings scheduling is conditional to the supply of info on job opportunities in Egypt (EAGA)in Egypt (EAGA)

Leadership (3/3)Leadership (3/3)

Egyptian learned community in Egyptian learned community in

GreeceGreece Two main cities: Athens-SalonikaTwo main cities: Athens-Salonika UniversitiesUniversities Research centersResearch centers Arab-Hellenic Chamber of CommerceArab-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce Labor union of Egyptians in GreeceLabor union of Egyptians in Greece Association of Greek - EgyptiotsAssociation of Greek - Egyptiots

Research on progress

Key Aquaculture companies/sites Key Aquaculture companies/sites probingprobing

IdentificationIdentification RankingRanking Mapping locationsMapping locations Approaching the top 6 for collaborationApproaching the top 6 for collaboration Mapping Egyptian workers and techniciansMapping Egyptian workers and technicians SurveySurvey

Database development

Open architecture and open source software (MySQL RDBMS).

Provides easy integration with the website under development and efficient storage of our data.

One database for fisherman and AC workers and one dedicated to the learned community

Through the website we provide access to the databases of the workers, an option for a worker to enlist in the database, a blog service where news and events will be announced.

We consider adding a forum for workers to communicate.

Website development

Additional output

Joint Research/Development

Initiated contacts with:

-Damietta University

-Mansura University

Six months achievements

Main accomplishments

• Over 30% (160/500) of fisheries questionnaires completed and compiled

• 65 AC workers and technicians registered (estimated total = 500)

• 10 community leaders identified (criteria compliance)

• Database filled with first 50 entries

• Website developed at final stage before publishing on the web

• Visit to Damietta region/establishment of local community relations

• First info day scheduled for first week of April in Kavala

• Port and local authorities informed

• 6 AC companies informed

• Contacts undertaken and collaboration in progress with the Egyptian Labor Union and the Egyptian Embassy.

• Greek Embassy and Consulate informed

Main discrepancies

• Six month target not achieved in the registration of AC workers

• Questionnaire to the learned society not yet tested

• Egyptian learned society not yet fully registered

• Info days on job opportunities in Egypt subject to the supply of data expected from the Egyptian side.

• Greek AC training curriculum definition subject to the supply of AC training needs from the Egyptian side

Unexpected threatsUnexpected threats

Strained Greek economy Strained Greek economy Steep unemployment raise Steep unemployment raise Fish demand shrinkageFish demand shrinkage Aquaculture faces sudden crisis Aquaculture faces sudden crisis Threat on immigrant jobs raisingThreat on immigrant jobs raising Egyptian fishermen strike in Salonika Port !!!Egyptian fishermen strike in Salonika Port !!!

Issues requiring resolution

Egyptian fishermen on strike (working mostly on trawlers) become reluctant to supply personal data

Fear of job and revenue loss hinders their decision to move to AC

Key AC firms in sudden distress seem to step back on dispensing free of charge training

Egyptian fishermen demand subsistence, accommodation and work compensation during training period

Measures envisaged to overcome Measures envisaged to overcome problemsproblems

Propose to postpone planned April interviews with Propose to postpone planned April interviews with trawler fishermen till the end of the striketrawler fishermen till the end of the strike

- Contingency solution : Trawler fishermen to be interviewed during summer vacations in Damietta

Allow compensation to trainees and trainersAllow compensation to trainees and trainers

- - Number of trainees to be reduced Number of trainees to be reduced

- Budget allocations to be internally modified - Budget allocations to be internally modified

- Budget to be increased- Budget to be increased

- Combination of the above- Combination of the above

Lessons learned – IOM relevant ideas

Fisherman communities are spatially concentrated with high level of illiteracy, generation transmitted skills and a customary ability to move across sea borders. It is to be validated that these communities have similar migration characteristics across cultures

Migration occurs through organized networks which while not trafficking are not immune from human exploitation

Ties with homeland need to be empowered with the potential use of internet technologies

EEgyptian gyptian AgAgribusiness ribusiness AAssociationssociation

التصنيع و لإلنتاج األعمال رجال التصنيع جمعية و لإلنتاج األعمال رجال جمعيةالزراعيالزراعي

The Egyptian Agribusiness The Egyptian Agribusiness Association (EAGA) is a non-profit Association (EAGA) is a non-profit NGO”.NGO”.

that aims to serve the Agribusiness that aims to serve the Agribusiness community through:community through:

Support for industry integrated Support for industry integrated clusters to represent, advocate and clusters to represent, advocate and  achieve their members’ collective  achieve their members’ collective interests.interests.

CouncilsCouncils

• Egyptian Fish Council Egyptian Fish Council

• Egyptian Olive Council Egyptian Olive Council

• Egyptian Meat CouncilEgyptian Meat Council

• Egyptian Poultry Council.Egyptian Poultry Council.

• Dairy production council Dairy production council

• Egyptian Seeds association Egyptian Seeds association   

The Egyptian Fish Council was established in The Egyptian Fish Council was established in 2005, and aims to represent the workers in 2005, and aims to represent the workers in the private sector in all disciplines working in the private sector in all disciplines working in the fishing industry, based on the the fishing industry, based on the recommendations of the workshops held in recommendations of the workshops held in Egypt in cooperation with experts in fish and Egypt in cooperation with experts in fish and the Dutch side a number of Egyptian private the Dutch side a number of Egyptian private sector representatives In addition to a number sector representatives In addition to a number of scientists and experts in universities and of scientists and experts in universities and scientific institutesscientific institutes..

To develop the fishing industry in Egypt, To develop the fishing industry in Egypt, which includes the activities of fish farming, which includes the activities of fish farming, fishing and related industries ,the fishing and related industries ,the development of information system and a development of information system and a map of fish investment in Egypt in order to map of fish investment in Egypt in order to allow Arab and foreign investors to invest in allow Arab and foreign investors to invest in this area in addition to support small farmers this area in addition to support small farmers and fishermen financially and technically , and fishermen financially and technically , and support stalled projects to solve their and support stalled projects to solve their

problemsproblems. .

• Our Members represents a huge part of Our Members represents a huge part of the sector from different governorates all the sector from different governorates all over Egypt north & Southover Egypt north & South

• ( Kafr EL sheikh , Damietta, Fayoum, Port ( Kafr EL sheikh , Damietta, Fayoum, Port Said, Sharqeya, Alexandria, Ismailia , Said, Sharqeya, Alexandria, Ismailia ,

Arish , LuxorArish , Luxor

Training for the sector workers where we reach 300 Training for the sector workers where we reach 300 trainee during the last 3 years trainee during the last 3 years

Study tour in different countriesStudy tour in different countries Attending the most important Expo in the world Attending the most important Expo in the world

yearlyyearly Organizing Conferences( Nationa & International) & Organizing Conferences( Nationa & International) &

WorkShop on a large scale for the whole sectorWorkShop on a large scale for the whole sector

AchievemeAchievement nt

AchievemeAchievement nt

Trying to help fish farms to get ISO & EU Trying to help fish farms to get ISO & EU accreditationaccreditation

Different studies to cover the sector needs that was Different studies to cover the sector needs that was represented to the minister represented to the minister

A new pilot project for the closed recirculation A new pilot project for the closed recirculation system to be applied for the first time in Egypt system to be applied for the first time in Egypt

4 adds of a special magazine ( ASMAK ) 4 adds of a special magazine ( ASMAK )

Mapping & registration

In cooperation with Most of the Associations , businessmen involved and related to the Aqua Culture Industry and the Egyptian Fish Council EAGA is collecting data from different sources to build trusted data network that can be used in any future data collection and data delivery to the fishermen community.

A National Registration Network is being developed in Cooperation with most of the fishermen leaders all over Egypt to Lay hands on the total population of Egyptian businessmen and specialists active in the field of Aqua Culture.

Survey

A national Survey is being conducted to identify the achievements and success stories in the Aqua Culture industry in different levels ( business & Fishermen levels) to be used as a model in raising the awareness in future .

A questionnaire is sent to all the trusted buddies related to the AC in Egypt to identify the major problems facing the industry .

Physical and Electronic Networking A data software house is being developed in SQL

server Database format that will be used as an information desk in the Help desk that will be created in Egypt by the end of the project.

The data base will contain but not limited to all the up-to-date information about the Aqua culture industry in Egypt.

An electronic Recruitment center is being developed to fill the gap between the Business aquaculture sector and the fishermen seeking for better opportunities in Egypt and Greek.

Web-based Data center

All the developed databases will be connected to the website to insure a better communication between :-

Egyptian learned society locally in Greece and internationally with their counterparts in Egypt.

The Egyptian counterpart organization, with their counterparts around the world

Website & Database developmentDatabase Development 1/7

Egypt Farmers: Farmer Data sheet Farmer Training Courses.

Egypt Fish Farmers:Farmer Data sheet ( Personal and social Data)Farmer Training Courses.

Egypt Farms Managers: Manager Data sheet Manager Training Courses.

Database Development 2/7

Academic Institutes:– Academy Application Form– Academy Services and specialty.

Consultants DB:– Consultant name & Rank– Biography.

Research Centers– Free published researches.– Paid for researches.– Submit research– Annual Reports

Database Development 3/7

Governmental Bodies in the Area DB:

– Ministry of agriculture Rolls and regulations. Authorization Requirements. Governorates contacts.

– Ministry of aggregation Rolls and regulations. Authorization Requirements. Governorates contacts.

Database Development 4/7

– Ministry of environmental affairs. Rolls and regulations. Authorization Requirements. Governorates contacts.

Ministry of scientific research. – Rolls and regulations.– Authorization Requirements.– Governorates contacts.

Website & Database developmentDatabase Development 5/7

International Federation for aquaculture. – Rolls and regulations.– Authorization Requirements.– Governorates contacts.

Database Development 6/7

Non Governmental associations DB:– Executive regulations.– Managers– Targets & Objectives.– Board Members– Councils

Commercial Chambers DB:– Executive regulations.– Services

Importers & Exporters:– Importers DB– Exporters DB

Database Development 7/7

Linkage to in Greek :– Universities.– Technology– Labs– Associations– Government services– Labor