Quella prigione a cielo aperto chiamata Gaza

Le speranze nate con il ritiro israeliano nel 2005 sono state rapidamente uccise. Un anno fa, durante l’operazione “piombo fuso”, l’esercito israeliano ha ucciso 1.419 palestinesi, principalmente civili, e ne ha feriti 5.300. Con i confini sigillati non c’era scampo per gli abitanti della Striscia. Dopo l’attacco i confini sono rimasti chiusi. L’assedio continua.


http://www.terranews.it/news/2010/01/quella-prigione-cielo-aperto-chiamata-gaza

International assistance

(Personal research work)

There are two main agencies which have provided assistance to the fisheries sector in the Strip of Gaza. These are the Danish International Development Agency, DANIDA, and CARE International, an international non governmental relief and development organisation.

DANIDA Gaza fisheries sector

DANIDA has provided support to the Gaza fisheries sector since 1996 via the Gaza fisheries project. The Gaza fisheries project lasted four years with a budget of DKK 19 million. It was followed by a consolidation phase, which started in 2000 and had a DKK 6 million budget. The consolidation phase which was meant to last 18 months was delayed due to the political situation. The consolidation phase is now closing with the construction of the Hauling Launching System slip way.

The objective of the DANIDA Gaza fisheries sector was to support the development of the fisheries sector in Gaza through the training and capacity enhancement of the Directorate of Fisheries with a focus on fisheries management, fisheries research and data collection, and general management and administration. Major activities of the project included: Assisting the Directorate of Fisheries in promoting cooperation with the Fishermen’s Association and Cooperative; Assisting Directorate of Fisheries staff in developing biological sampling and data collection; Facilitating the construction of a Hauling Launching System in the port of Gaza; Assisting Directorate of Fisheries in developing management skills, etc. Due to difficult situation, halted activities and closures, activities relating to data collection and inspection severely suffered during the project implementation and consolidation phase.

Following the outbreak of the Intifada (2000) which resulted in high poverty rates amongst fishermen’s households, DANIDA also started a fisherwomen’s Association project. The project was completed in 2004.

CARE International Gaza Fisheries Conservation and Development Project

CARE International implemented in collaboration with the American Near East Refugee Aid organization the Gaza Fisheries Conservation and Development Project during the period 1997 - 1999. The main components of the project funded by IFAD were:

• Strengthening the managerial capacity of the Fisherman’s Cooperative;
• Establishment of a savings fund for fisherman in Gaza;
• Provision of training to fisherman, cooperative staff and Ministry of Agriculture Staff in ways and means of conserving and developing the fishing sector in Gaza;
• Establishing women’s solidarity groups and assisting them to develop community-managed savings and loan facilities.
  

The project also included a sector review of fisheries in Gaza and a number of concept papers for the undertaking additional initiatives, including for the development of an artificial reef in Gaza to increase the productivity of fisheries.

International Management Group

The European Commission International Management Group has recently assessed the feasibility of rehabilitating the fishery shelter in Gaza (to make it a port) and the social impact the rehabilitation of the shelter would have on fishers. What is causing problem with the current shelter in Gaza is: i) its design - in its current state, the shelter is creating environmental problems with 650, 000 tonnes of sand coming in each year - and ii) fish catches decrease due to Israeli fishing restrictions (permitted fishing area: 10 nautical mile from coastline). Regarding catch decrease, Seamus Dunne from the International Management Group, recommends developing artificial reefs and mariculture. The report has been submitted to the European Commission for funding and to the Palestinian Authority for agreement.

Future assistance? This is currently THE question. What will be the relationship between the new leadership and the international community? Will the international donor community cut off aid?

Trade and Movement

(Personal research work)

Without trade the Gazan fisheries sector cannot develop.

The main commercial point for products in and out of Gaza is Karni (Almentar in Arabic) checkpoint. Export figures show that for one ‘Palestinian’ container out, four ‘Israeli’ containers come in – indicating a net transfer in favour of Israelis. Two months after the completion of unilateral Israeli disengagement from the Gaza Strip, an agreement was reached on 15 November 2005 between the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority. The Agreement set an export target of 150 truckloads a day by the end of 2005. OCHA reports that in December 2005, 48 truckloads of goods left from Gaza, a figure well below the export target set in the 15 November Agreement.

Major hindrances to fish exports are:

• the stringent checks truckloads have to go through at the Karni check point to meet Israeli security concerns which make it difficult to export fresh fish, a very perishable good;
• the back to back loading system, by which goods are unloaded from one truck and reloaded onto another truck at the checkpoint;
• the lack of market outside Israel. No fish marketing is allowed from Gaza to the West Bank and the Jordan markets – where there is a high demand for fish;

and also,

• the unavailability of fish inspectors at the check point outside regular office hours;
• the lack of equipment and modern storage facilities for importing and exporting fish.

Another impediment is that Israeli imports into Gaza have precedence over Palestinian exports out of Gaza. OCHA reports that 22 of the 31 import and export channels at Karni are either exclusively for Israeli imports or with Israeli priority where dual passage occurs. This is in breach of the Paris protocol agreement that affirms the equality of treatment for Palestinian and Israeli goods. Presently Israel exports 1,300 tonnes of frozen fish and 900 tonnes of fresh fish into Gaza a year – mostly species not consumed in Israeli markets due to local dietary practices. It is estimated that an additional 800 tonnes of high value fish not accounted for in Palestinian statistics are sold a year to Israeli merchants waiting at some 10-15 kms off the coast of Gaza with the blessing of the IDF (Israeli Defence Force).

Trading fish by air is not an option, as air traffic out of Gaza is prohibited. By sea? Access to Gaza by sea is denied. As for the sea port in the Gaza Strip, its future is still uncertain. The 15 November Agreement stated that the construction of a seaport can commence but is not expected to be operational within two years. The importance of a port at Gaza to the Palestinian economy was agreed on by both sides at Oslo, as being necessary for the development of free foreign trade with other countries in the world. The work which began in August 2000, with European donors’ funds, was stopped after the outbreak of the Al Aqsa Intifada in October of that year because of the political and military situation. Now the sea port, better described as a shelter, needs rehabilitation. It is silting over with 650,000 tonnes of sand coming in each year. Seamus Dunne, Senior Social Development Officer for the International Management Group, a body working with the European Commission (DG Development) says a rehabilitated sea port would offer: better security (at the moment there are a lot of accidents walking to boats); better equipment and modern storage facilities for importing and exporting fish (provided that Israeli restrictions on trade are lifted), and; an additional 9 kms to fish. (to be continued)

Palestinian Fishing after the Disengagement

(Personal research work)

Prior to the disengagement, internal movement was almost impossible within the Gaza Strip. Fishers and farmers from Al Mawasi, a 14 kilometre long and one kilometre wide enclave caught between the Gush Katif settlement block and the sea had little access to the outside world, for example. Fishing was prohibited from the nearby wharf of Khan Younis and subject to restrictions from the other wharf, the Rafah wharf. People could only access Al Mawasi through a single internal checkpoint through which it was virtually impossible for non residents to enter- be they family, friends or merchants. Only one fisher a year was allowed into Gaza City to register all the other fishers. These registrations were important for fishers as they made them eligible for international assistance, in particular World Food Programme food aid, on which the restrictions on sea and land made them heavily dependent (see also Safety Net for Palestinian Fishermen).

It was clear from the Disengagement Plan that Israel would maintain marine authority off the coast of Gaza. Less clear were the restrictions, if any, Israel will impose on the activities of the fishers and whether Israel will continue marine inspection off the coast of Gaza.

Months after the disengagement, completed on 12th September 2005, internal movement has seen a dramatic improvement within the Strip. Yet, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights reports that: since fishers have been allowed back into the sea they have been subjected to intensive monitoring by the Israeli military at sea, including shooting (see also Some relief for Gaza’s fishermen).

The lastest OCHA Humanitarian Update for November December 2005 reports that:

• Access for Palestinian fishing has improved in Al Mawasi;
• Due to the prohibition of use of Khan Younis wharf and the restrictions at the Rafah wharf as well as Palestinian looting in the aftermath of the pull out, the wharves are in need of repair (USD 675,000 and USD 460,000 respectively);
• There is growing concern in Al Mawasi about the ability to export agricultural products through Karni crossing.
  

As for access to fishing, the OCHA update reads that:

• Palestinian fishing remain restricted by Israeli measures up to 10 nautical miles from the coastline;
• Palestinian fishing is further prohibited one nautical mile north of the border with Egypt and one and a half nautical miles south of the border with Israel;
• Palestinian fishing was totally prohibited between 24 September and 6 October (see also Some relief for Gaza’s fishermen).

OCHA stands for Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs - It is a United Nations agency whose mandate is inter alia to coordinate humanitarian response. On the OCHA Humanitarian Update Nov Dec 2005 link, you will find a map of access for Palestinian fishing dated November 2005 (p7) as well as maps of Gaza prior and post disengagement - practical to see where the Gush Katif settlement was. (personal research work posting to be continued)

Israel's sea access restrictions threaten the sustainability of fish stocks off the coast of the Gaza Strip

(Personal research work)

Israel's restrictions on sea access have led to the over-fishing of accessible stocks off the coast of Gaza. Under the Oslo Accords, Gaza Strip fishers are entitled to fish 20 nautical miles off the zone L coastline of the Gaza Strip, that is the central maritime zone of Gaza. In 2000, after the second Intifada, fishing in zone L was restricted to 6 nautical miles, resulting in a further reduction of the fishing zone for approximately the same number of boats (trawlers, purse seines and small boats). The consequences of this excessive fishing effort are: the degradation of fishery resources, the dissipation of food production potential and economic waste.

Fishers have been reported to use smaller mesh size nets resulting in the catching of young/undersized fish which will not reach maturity and thus will not replenish the seacoast and are not even be marketable. Half a tonne of fish a day is dumped because fish are too small or non marketable. Also, it seems that Palestinian fishers have started fishing breeding grounds. In the face of this, the Fisheries Directorate in Gaza is hand tied, as it does not have the capacity to implement regulations. Further fisheries management practices are few (but do exist, e.g. closing fishing season, withdrawal of small fish specimen on the fish market) and regulations are inadequate.

In 2003, the annual catch was 1,083 metric tons, mostly sardines, followed by mackerel, swimming crab, cuttlefish, horse mackerel, prawns and little tunny (sources: Palestinian National Authority Ministry of Agriculture). This represents a considerable decrease compared to 2002 when annual catch was 2,379 metric tons (sources: Food and Agriculture Organization, Fishstats). Seamus Dunne, Senior Social Development Officer for the International Management Group, a body working with the European Commission (DG Development) says that estimates taken from 5 years pre Intifada and 5 years post Intifada show that fish catches decrease 2,38 tonnes/day along the coast of Gaza Strip. At this rate, the fishing industry in Gaza has little left to live.

In the meantime, foreign flagged boats are said to be operating off the coast of Gaza reducing even further the social and economic opportunities the sea offers to Palestinians.

Has the disengagement from Gaza changed anything? To be continued

The 1993 Oslo Accords leading up to the Overfishing of Accessible Fishing Stocks off the Coast of Gaza

(Personal research work)

The Gaza Strip came under the autonomous rule of the Palestinian National Authority in 1994, as a result of the Oslo Peace Accords of 1993. The same accords divided the approximately 41km long coastline of the Strip into three zones. The two zones at the ends of the Gaza Strip were defined as buffer zones and closed to Palestinian boats. The reason put forward was Israeli security and stopping boats getting to Egypt, to the area opposite the Israeli settlements of Gush Katif and to Israel itself. The consequences for the fishing communities in the southern parts of the Strip - where most fishing communities are located after Gaza City (approx. 1,100) - were devastating. They lost their immediate source of cash and food, and in some cases lost their source of living, as boats and nets were left unused deteriorating on the beach. Only the central zone of the Gaza Strip was open to Palestinians for fishing but only up to 20 sea miles out from the coast - which means that deep water fishing was prohibited.

After the al Aqsa Intifada, in 2000, all Palestinian vessels were forbidden to go further than six nautical miles out, further reducing the capacity of Palestinians to live off the sea.

Sometimes complete bans are imposed on fishers. It is estimated that in the five year period following the al Aqsa Intifada, fishers have been denied access to the sea for an accumulated total of one year. Recently, from September, 24^th until October, 8^th, 2005, the Israeli Defense Forces did not allow Gaza's fishers access to the sea. This complete closure occurred during the Sardine season and also at a time when the moon provides optimal light for fishing. Fishing being a seasonal activity, these bans are devastating. Vessels which do not obey restrictions are shot by the Israeli navy, with the consequences this entails in terms of loss of life and equipment. A Washington Times interview of Tarik Mousbah Saker, Fisheries Director in Gaza, reads that in 2004 an estimated $10 million in equipment was destroyed by Israeli naval forces in addition to millions more in lost income from fish sales. To be continued.

Fishing aside, there is no real industry in Gaza

(Personal research work)

Fishing has a long tradition in Palestine with fishers operating from Haifa (now Israel) to Port Saïd (Egypt). In 1948, following the tragedy of Palestine, the Nakba, many Palestinian communities were forced to flee the coastal areas between Haifa and Jaffa and took refuge southwards in the Gaza Strip. The displaced Palestinians who lived off fishing continued to do so, joining the fishing population of the Strip. Nowadays, there are 2,500 fishers in the Strip of Gaza and a further 2,500 people employed in the fishing industry (e.g. fish marketing, boat services, boat repair and maintenance). Out of the 1,4 million Palestinians living in the Strip, it is estimated that approximately 35,000 people rely on the fishing industry as a source of income or food.

The fisheries sector is relatively small compared to the major fisheries of neighbouring countries. But for the economy of Gaza, which has a high unemployment rate and suffers severe shortage of job opportunities, the fisheries sector is a significant source of employment and is an important source of high protein food. Fishing aside, there is no other real industry in Gaza. The hothouses, transferred as a gift to the Palestinian Administration, still have to prove their economic viability. There is doubt whether the export of their produce abroad by the Palestinians will succeed, as they do not enjoy the special privileges settlers had in terms of water use and border crossings.

Fishing activities along the Gaza Strip are carried out in four main fishing sites: Gaza City, where most fishers are, Deir El Balah, Khan Yunis and Rafah which altogether count around 1,100 fishers. Since 1967, the year Israel occupied the Strip, fishing activities became severely controlled and restricted. to be continued. (Email me for bibliographical references)