The possibilities of developing inland fisheries appear very limited in Jordan. There are no natural lakes and most of the rivers in the country are seasonal. The only river in which a small-scale commercial fishery can probably be developed is the Jordan River. When the proposed dams on the rivers Khalid, Ziglab, Shueib and Kafrein are constructed the resulting reservoirs may offer possibilities for fish production. Morphometric data relating to these impoundments are given below.
| Name of impoundment | Sea level m | Depth m | Surface area in ha | ||
| max. | min. | av. | |||
Khalid | 48 | 90 | 700 | 140 | 400 |
Ziglab | 129 | 36 | 25 | 5 | 15 |
Kafrein | 130 | 27 | 45 | 5 | 25 |
Shueib | 170 | 20 | 40 | 5 | 25 |
| Total | 810 | 155 | 465 | ||
Besides these, there will soon be a number of smaller reservoirs constructed for irrigation purposes, which also can be brought under fish production. The East Ghor canal which may be about 100 km long and on an average 6 m wide seems to be very well suited for the development of sport fishing.
The present production of fish from a total surface area of about 548 hectares of natural fresh water in the country is reported to be 4,665 kg. This appears to be an underestimate as the collection of catch statistics is not well organized. The expert estimates that by proper management of the reservoir fisheries and utilization of the limited potential for the development of river fisheries, the fresh-water fish production can be raised to about 45,000 kg. For the proper use of the fishery potential of the reservoirs, it is essential to carry out necessary pre-impoundment studies and, based on the results of such studies, formulate a program of development and management before construction starts.
The greatest potential for increasing fresh-water fish production in Jordan appears to be in the establishment of large-scale fish culture. As already mentioned the common carp is not a very popular fish in the country. As there is a preference for whole fish, rather than fillet or cut pieces, it may be possible to build up a better market for carp, if it can be sold at a size that the ordinary consumer can afford to buy whole. All Tilapia spp. are liked by the people and besides T. zillii and T. galilaea occurring in the Jordan River, T. nilotica has been introduced into the country from Syria.
The Jordan valley has a total irrigated area of about 500,000 dunams 1. The expert considers it very easy to find at least 5,000 dunams of land suitable for fish pond construction (especially in Baqura, Shoune, W. Yabis, Deir Alla, Kerameh, Jericho or Zor area). If well managed, such ponds can produce up to 1,000 tons of common carp and tilapia per year. The water required for such ponds will not be more than 2 percent of the available irrigation water in the region. The areas studied by the expert in respect of their suitability for fish pond construction are briefly described below.
Close to the W. Yabis Fish Culture Station there are about 300 dunams of Government owned swamp land, suitable for the construction of a farm for producing fry to stock rivers, impoundments or ponds. Water supply for this farm can be obtained from the East Ghor Canal in addition to small springs in the area.
The Ghor and Zor area has the greatest potentiality for fish farm development. However, since the land is divided into small lots and owned by private farmers, it may not be possible to establish large farms in the area. However, small farms or home ponds can be built and operated by the farmers to obtain an additional crop.
The construction and operation of such ponds will be particularly useful in this area where the soil has a high content of salt, as the ponds can be used for leaching salt from the land. To assist in the development of fish culture, it will be helpful if the farmers are supplied enough fingerlings to stock their ponds. The source of water for ponds in this area can be either the Jordan River or the Zor Canal.
Ein Fashka is an area of large springs along the shore of the Dead Sea on the western part. The estimated amount of water supply available from the springs is about 500 l/sec. The land around the springs is mostly swampy, uncultivated and owned by the Government. A fish farm, not less than 2,000 dunams in area can be established here to produce up to 400 tons of fish per year. Salinity of the water of Ein Fashka springs is about 1,740 mg/l of Cl', but is within the limit of tolerance of common carp.
South-east of the Dead Sea area there are about 1,000 dunams of uncultivated, swampy and saline land suitable for fish farming. A production up to about 200 tons of fish per year is considered possible in this area utilizing for water supply W. El Hasa and W. Isal, besides other local springs.
In the Azraq area there are springs with a water flow of about 400–500 l/sec which are at present not utilized. Extensive saline swamp lands are to be found here and it should be possible to construct a fish farm of about 2,000 dunams, and when fully developed can produce about 300 tons of fish per year.
Besides the above major areas for fish culture development, many other sites can be found for fish pond construction. One such site is in the area of the World Food Program (WFP) project for Bedouin Settlement where there are wells for livestock watering or for irrigation. In the Jafer area Ghad Dise, it is considered possible to establish a small fish farm of not more than about 100 dunams.
Based on the initial surveys the expert estimates that up to about 2,000 tons of fish per year can be produced in Jordan, as shown below.
| Area | Place | Area of farm in dunams | Production target kg/d | Achievable total production tons |
| Jordan Valley | W. Yabis | 300 | 200 | 60 |
| Baqura, Shoune Deir Alla, Kerameh, Jericho, Zor, etc. | 5,000 | 200 | 1,000 | |
| Dead Sea - West | Ein Fashka | 2,000 | 200 | 400 |
Dead Sea - South East | Ghor Safi Ghor Mazza | 1,000 | 200 | 200 |
| Azraq | Azraq | 2,000 | 150 | 300 |
| Total | 10,300 | - | 1,960 |
If a vigrous program of fish farm construction and management is implemented and the indicated production achieved, it may serve to increase per capita consumption of fish in Jordan from 420 g fresh fish in 1964 to more than 1 kg. It may take a number of years for operatives to attain the necessary experience and skill to obtain a production of 2 tons/ha, but even during the interim period, when production may be only half of this, it will make a significant contribution to the nutrition of the people in the country. Following critical experiments in carp and tilapia culture and on the basis of the results thus obtained, a suitable extension program should be implemented.
There is considerable interest among farmers in constructing fish ponds on their farms and the Agricultural Credit Corporation has expressed willingness to provide funds for such projects. At their request the expert made preliminary investigations at a number of private farms. One farmer, Mr. H. Kayd, obtained a loan from the Corporation and started the construction of a 10-dunam farm in the Zor area near W. Yabis in September 1966.
1 One dunam = 1,000 m2 = 0.10 ha
The method of fish culture in running-water ponds practised in Japan is of special significance under conditions existing in Jordan, especially since the area required for such fish ponds is small and the water flow is utilized with very little loss, enabling subsequent full use of the water for agricultural or other purposes. In Jordan there are springs with a constant temperature of 20–25°C, such as the Sukhneh Spring near Zarqa or the Ein Fashka Spring near the Dead Sea. The East Ghor Canal also seems to have a great potential for this type of fish culture. A feasibility study of such an enterprise is desirable. Preliminary experiments planned by the expert (see pages 13–14) could not be carried out due to the termination of his assignment, but when Mr. S. Bosnaq of the Veterinary Department, now undergoing training in fisheries in Japan, returns to Jordan this experiment could be undertaken.
Although Jordan is in the sub-tropical region, there are some springs in the country with a constant temperature of 16–20°C throughout the year. These springs can be used for small-scale culture of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri). The following waters appear suitable for trout culture.
| Area | Spring | Average water flow l/sec |
| Nablus | Badans | 70 |
| Jericho | Duyuk | 170 |
| Nueima | 75 | |
| Hisban | Faria | 50 |
| Jerash | Teis | 20 |
The expert considers that a production of 20 tons of trout per year is possible if these springs are used.
In view of the high temperature range throughout the year in Jordan, trout can grow much faster than in many other areas and attain marketable size in one year's time, instead of 18 or 24 months, as is usual in the European countries or in the U.S.A. The trout culture experiments in Badan springs started by the expert have to be continued to gain more experience and to get brood stock acclimatized to conditions in Jordan.
