By: Ala’a el Moqayad
https://www.maan-ctr.org/magazine/article/3367/
Small-sized fish - seed fish - is the most popular in Gaza
Exclusive to Environment and Development Horizons (Afaq magazine):
Palestinian fishermen on the coast of the Gaza Strip, which does not exceed forty kilometers in length, work relentlessly for long hours in the sea, using all means of fishing to earn their daily food, within a narrow sea area, controlled by Israel by which it can use it as a punitive tool whenever it wants.
Those who visit the fish market in the Gaza seaport, or other popular markets, will notice a remarkable presence of small-sized fish (seeds) of various types (sardines, nettles, tarragon, and others), which are being sold for a few shekels and they get a good turnout of people.
The availability of fish seeds at very cheap prices affects the sale of large and medium sizes. This raises the issue of “overfishing” in the Gaza Sea again. The equipment and fishing nets that are being used are banned internationally.
The justification is that it is difficult to implement laws to protect the marine environment and fish resources with the continuous restrictions of the occupation, and the tragic economic conditions for fishermen.
The fishing profession in Gaza includes about 4,000 fishermen with 1,100 fishing boats in the sea. Every once in a while, the occupation authorities announce an increase or decrease in the fishing area off the shores of Gaza. The maximum permitted fishing area reached 15 miles, while the lowest area was 6 miles.
Compulsory Step
Umm Hassan Abu Ryala (a 60-year-old Palestinian lady). She has been working in the fishing profession with her husband and sons for more than 25 years. She said to “Afaq Environmental Magazine” reporter that the fishing situation in Gaza has worsened in the past few years due to the Israeli blockade and the difficult economic conditions.
In the memory of "Umm Hassan" there were many happy days that resulted in abundant sustenance for the fishermen, with many fish and sizes between "medium and large" and prices that suit both the seller and the consumer. The fisherman's hopes nowadays to benefit from fishing however began to fade little by little until they reached the situation "We have no choice but to use the fish seed."
Um Hassan admits that catching small-sized fish negatively affects the marine environment, but she justifies this as a "compulsory step" in which we were forced to use narrow nets to catch "fish seed" due to the scarcity of fish, and the continuous Israeli restrictions represented in hunting and reducing the fishing area. She elaborates: "We resort to picking the seed without thinking about the consequences of it in the future, but the general economic conditions, poverty, and lack of income have made us only think about survival. This prompted a large segment of people to prefer "sardine seed" over others. It is one of the types because it is abundantly available, and its price is cheap, as the price of a kilo of it does not exceed 4 shekels.
According to "Um Hassan", the fish seed is still abundant on the coasts of the sea, but its size has changed, as it became less thick and smaller than before.
Musleh Khalil’s opinion (a 43-year-old fisherman), is not far from what was reported by "Um Hassan", as he also confirms that resorting to catching "seeds" is caused by the lack of large fish, and the manipulation of the fishing area, saying: "15 years ago we encountered small fish in tons and did not pay attention to it, because the catch of other fish was plentiful."
While at the present time, if the fisherman had continued to use the old nets only, without the narrow openings and the new procedures, he would have returned to his home after an exhausting journey of more than 6 hours with no luck according to Khalil - adding: “The law guarantees the protection of the fisherman as a citizen, why not take measures parallel to the law banning fishing small fish, to ensure the preservation of our rights and dignity?
Musleh Khalil adds: "There are months in the year in which only small fish are available in the sea. The peak of this issue lasts from June to August which is the period of breeding of fish. If we notice real concern from the official authorities on the marine environment, then there should be some financial considerations for the fishermen, to prevent them from needing to fish during this period.”
Marine desertification
Professor Abdel-Fattah Abed Rabbo, Prof. of environmental sciences at the Islamic University of Gaza, explains to “Afaq Environmental Magazine” about the methods of overfishing in the sea of the Gaza Strip, saying: “The fishermen use two methods that contribute to the destruction of the marine environment which endanger it on the long term. The first is the use of narrow fishing nets which tend to catch fish of all sizes.
As for the second method, it is the use of 18 “bottom nets” trawl boats, and its danger lies in that it “sweeps everything it finds at the bottom of the sea, as it is not limited to fishing, but includes food wealth for fish, which eventually leads to desertification.” As described by Abd Rabbo.
Abd Rabbo believes that continuing to intensify fishing, to obtain abundant production without taking into consideration the environmental aspects of this on fish resources, will exhaust the marine environment and threaten its sustainability.
He assures that preventing fishing in the fertile and breeding seasons is necessary to preserve fish stocks and ensure the continuity of marine organisms, in order to reach the desired goal of achieving marine food security.
Abd Rabbo concluded his speech, stressing the need for fishermen to have sufficient awareness of the dangers of their behavior at sea and to abide by the laws of protecting the marine environment, stressing at the same time that real assistance must be provided to the fishermen, which is one of the poorest groups in Gaza.
Translated by: Rasha Abu Dayyeh
