Book excerpt: FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Circulars All Near East and North Africa countries have sea borders, whereas fresh water resources are scarce. Yet, aquaculture production in the region has doubled over the past decade, with an average annual growth rate of 9.7 percent, and the role of aquaculture in total fish production is steadily increasing. It should be noted that the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Islamic Republic of Iran contributed 74 and 21 percent respectively to total aquaculture output.