In a stark shift from tradition, fishermen along the Nile River in Cairo are now earning more from collecting plastic waste than from catching fish, as pollution devastates aquatic life. Mohammed Ahmed Sayed Mohammed, a 60-year-old resident of al-Qarsaya island, exemplifies this change, steering his boat each morning not in search of fish but to hunt plastic bottles that choke the waters.
From Fishing to Waste Collection
Fifteen years ago, Sayed would haul in 25 kilograms of fish daily during winter seasons. Today, his catch has plummeted to just 4-5 kilograms, selling for about 70 Egyptian pounds per kilogram. In contrast, plastic collection offers a more lucrative alternative, with plastic fetching 33 pounds per kilogram, a significant increase from 8 pounds in 2018. Tin cans command even higher prices at 85 pounds per kilogram.
This economic pivot is driven by declining fish populations, attributed to rampant plastic pollution in the Nile. Approximately 180 fishers on al-Qarsaya have transitioned to waste collection, abandoning their ancestral trade as the river's ecosystem deteriorates.
VeryNile Initiative: A Beacon of Hope
Launched in 2018 by the Egyptian social enterprise Bassita, the VeryNile initiative aims to clean up the Nile by paying fishers above-market rates for collected plastic. The program has distributed 150 boats free of charge and expanded to multiple locations, including Assiut, Sayed's birthplace. Since its inception, VeryNile has collected over 454 tonnes of plastic waste, processed at a recycling factory in 6th of October City.
Amna Karamallah, a 20-year-old community responsibility lead for the initiative, notes that they work closely with fishermen, almost living a full life on the island. The initiative also employs 25 island women in various roles, from kitchen operations to product design, and has established an emergency clinic and agricultural training programs.
Community Impact and Challenges
Sayed's personal story highlights both the benefits and struggles of this transition. He used income from plastic collection to marry off his three children and build a cafe for his eldest son, as employment opportunities on the island are scarce. However, the community faces significant challenges, including inadequate healthcare services—Sayed's wife died three years ago due to this lack—and limited education and job prospects, especially for women outside the VeryNile program.
Al-Qarsaya island, located in central Cairo yet isolated and accessible only by ferry or boat, retains rare greenery but battles environmental degradation. Fishers like Sayed, who once supplied Cairo with fish, now provide raw materials for the recycling economy, transforming pollution into products made from bottle caps and plastic bags.
Hoda Gamal, a workshop participant, recalls that fishers initially saw declining catches as divine punishment, unaware of environmental pollution. Now, they have become guardians of the Nile, collecting bottles and bags to protect the waters that sustain them.
This shift underscores a broader narrative of adaptation in the face of ecological crisis, as Nile communities confront a deteriorating ecosystem while forging new economic paths through environmental stewardship.
