Fisheries Data (marine and continental)

Source: the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics
Date: 25 November 2005

Fisheries and Aquatic Organisms:

Fish: Data indicate that the number of fish species is 297, distributed as 12 species of fresh water, in Jordan River and other inland water ponds, 186 species are ancient Mediterranean Sea fish and 16 species, migrated from the Red Sea via Suez Canal.

Marine mollusca: The number of species of marine mollusca in territorial water of Gaza Strip is 477 distributed as 177 species settled in the Mediterranean Sea and 300 species migrated from the Red Sea via the Sues canal.

Fisheries: Number of species of fish and marine organisms which are fishable in the territorial water of Gaza Strip is 30, and annual fishing average is 3,303 tones. However this number does not reflect the actual quantity or fish diversity of fisheries because of a delineated allowed area by Israeli occupation for fishing and other Israeli countermeasures.

Quick news

All employees of Palestinian Authority ministries on strike against the non payment of their monthly salaries over the last 6 months.

Gaza fishers continue to be prevented from access the sea since June, 25th.

FAO/UNDP appealing for support to vulnerable fishers in the Gaza Strip.

List of appeal projects for the occupied Palestinian territory by sector for 2006 with: Name of appealing agencies, project titles, funds required and (un)met.

FAO/UNDP appealing for support to vulnerable fishers in the Gaza Strip.

Fishers faced with insurmontable challenge

The fishing industry, already crippled by restrictions and pollution, is suffering following the closure of the Gaza coastline. WFP warns of deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza (August, 28th 2006):

'Gaza today remains completely reliant on an external food supply and commercial stocks.

Over a six-week period from 1 July-15 August, WFP transported some 5,000 tons of food into Gaza for its expanded caseload. There is now a one-month stock of food aid available.

In contrast to Lebanon, where humanitarian food aid needs have been essentially met, the growing number of poor in Gaza are living on the bare minimum and face a daily struggle to cover their daily food needs.

Some 70 percent of Gaza’s population are food insecure and the vast majority are dependant on assistance from the United Nations to cover their basic needs.

WFP has responded to the rising poverty by increasing the number of people assisted to 220,000 from 160,000 previously.

They include poor farmers, fishermen, daily workers and disabled/disadvantaged individuals – around 50 percent of the non-refugee population, or 16 percent of Gaza’s total population.

Over 35,000 of those assisted are farmers and fishermen. Fishermen are currently faced with an insurmountable challenge.

The fishing industry – already in a steep decline due to restricted waters and pollution – has been paralyzed by a total closure of the Gaza coastline since 25 June.

The markets are now empty of fish and 35,000 people reliant on the industry are suffering a devastating loss of income.'

Gaza Marine Biodiversity

I've found this on the website of the Palestinian Ministry of Environmental Affairs (MENA). It is an overview of Gaza marine environment and biodiversity. It contains information on: Gaza physical environment, marine biodiversity, fish production, marine mammals and reptiles, marine flora, and on threats to marine biodiversity and impacts. It's dated 1996 but still, I find it interesting, for example to compare data over time. Fish production (in tonnes) is given per year starting from 1967. In relation to fish production, there are explanations for the increase and decrease, which are interesting to analyse data: "The large impact of the closing of the fishing grounds off the Sinai can be seen with the large drop in production after 1978. The next major decline, from 1984 to 1989 is thought to be the result of a further limiting of the area Palestinian fishers were allowed to fish by the Israelis. The next major jump from 1990 to 1993 is most likely the result of an increased level of effort (LOE). This period was the height of the intafada and marked by many long closures of the Israeli/ Gaza border. The result was that Palestinians who worked in Israel were forced to find alternative employment in Gaza and many returned to the fishery. The continuing relative high production from 1994 to present is due to the sustained higher LOE (due both to improved gear and sustained number of fishers)." Data are mostly taken from a CARE/Ma'an project.

Fishing paralysed for more than 50 days now

The fishing industry has been paralysed for more than 50 days now. Here assistance is requested to cover new shool year expenses. See posting below (" Humanitarian Appeal 2006") for assistance requested specifically to rehabilitate the fishing industry by FAO and UNDP.

From OCHA* latest situation report (6-24 August 2006):

" The fishing industry has been paralysed by the complete ban imposed by the IDF on fishing grounds off the Gaza Strip for over 50 days. On 14 August, the General Syndicate of Marine Fishers requested the assistance of the international community to support the needs of the fishermen and their families – there are almost 3,000 licensed fishermen in the Gaza Strip, most support sizeable families. Assistance was requested specifically in view of the new school year to cover the extra expense for clothes, stationary and other school-related needs."

* OCHA stands for Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the United Nations.

Humanitarian appeal 2006

The Food and Agriculture Organization (specialised agency of the United Nations) is appealing to donors for funding for fishers in the Gaza Strip. See description of project below:

Appealing agencies: FAO / UNDP

Issues addressed: During the second Intifada, fishers were prohibited from using the ports of Khan Yunis and in Rafah, resulting in a 30 percent drop in fish production and the loss of livelihoods for 850 fisher households. Most of their fishing boats and equipment were destroyed at the time.

Objectives: Help the most vulnerable fishers to restore and improve their livelihoods after disengagement through rehabilitation of fishing infrastructure and technical support.

Activities: Provision of production inputs to fishers to enable them to restore fishing activities. Rehabilitation and maintenance of boats.

Technical support to ensure high product quality and profitability, as well as aquatic ecological balance.

Beneficiaries: 850 fishers in Khan Yunis and Rafah.

Implementing partners: Ministry of Agriculture, NGOs, Cooperatives.

Duration: 12 months. Funds requested: US$3 000 000.

Fishers in Lebanon cannot access the sea

An article from the International Herald Tribune, by R.F. Worth. It is on Lebanese fishermen, some of whom are Palestinian refugees from 1948. It was published on August, 28th. I hesitated before posting it as it is not specifically on Gaza and as I don't know the situation of fishers in Lebanon. In the end I decided to put it on line, for information purposes. Below some extracts of the article:

"I am living on borrowed money."

Israeli blockade of Lebanese waters goes on, and its most direct victims are fishermen. They have been unable to put their boats out since the conflict began July 12.

For now, the 600 fishermen in Sidon are living mostly on handouts from the town and nonprofit groups. The fishermen say the aid is not enough to feed their families. The situation is the same, or worse, for the thousands of fishermen who work along Lebanon's coast, from Naqoura in the south to Tripoli in the north. Some have been reduced to begging.

Israel says it cannot lift the blockade until peacekeeping troops ensure that Lebanese ports are not used to import weapons for Hezbollah, the Shiite militia that battled Israel for more than a month.

Fouad Siniora, the current prime minister, appealed Wednesday to the United States for help in getting Israel to lift the blockade, without success.

About a quarter of the fishermen here are Palestinians, who generally live in poverty in refugee camps. Under Lebanese law, they are not allowed to own more than 49 percent of a fishing boat, or even to join fishermen's unions, so they are even more vulnerable than many others who fish for a living.

Sitting in his living room, Taher pointed to a black-and-white photograph of his grandfather, in a suit and tie, who was a judge in Haifa before the family fled north in 1948 when the state of Israel was created. As a younger son, he had few career options, and he took up fishing at 16.

"Yesterday we blew up inner tubes and put nets in them and floated them out from shore," Taher said in halting English. "Five men, and we sold our fish for 50,000 Lebanese pounds, 10,000 each." (Just under $7.)

He paused, then smiled. "Enough to buy some cigarettes," he said.

Implementation of the Agreement on Movement and Access

Link to report on the implementation of the Agreement on Movement and Access.

" The Rafah crossing has remained closed since 25 June for regular movement. (...) There is no indication as to when the crossing will reopen and no persons have been able to exit the Gaza Strip since 25 June.

The Karni crossing (...) was open for imports on all other scheduled working days although actual operating times varied between three and nine hours per day. No exported goods have crossed through Karni since 23 June.

The Erez crossing remains closed for Palestinian workers and traders since 12 March. (...)

The Kerem Shalom crossing has remained closed since 25 June, following an attack by Palestinian militants on an IDF observation post.

The Sufa crossing has remained closed since 21 June, due to a reported security alert by the IDF.

The deadline for the introduction of truck convoys between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank as agreed in the AMA, passed on 15 January. Discussions about the possibility of bus convoys have not resumed.

The GoI has not provided the assurance to donors that it will not interfere with the operation of the Gaza Strip seaport.

There have been no discussions on the Gaza Strip airport during the reporting period."

The text of the Agreement has been posted below to facilitate comparison.

The Agreement on Movement and Access

Israel and the Palestinian Authority have reached an agreement on the Gaza Strip border crossings on 15 November 2005. Below the Text of the Agreement on Movement and Acess:


To promote peaceful economic development and improve the humanitarian situation on the ground, the following agreement has been reached. It represents the commitments of the Government of Israel (GoI) and the Palestinian Authority (PA). Its implementation and further elaboration will be assisted by the Quartet Special Envoy for Disengagement and his staff and/or the United States Security Coordinator (USSC) and his staff.

1. Rafah
The parties have agreed to the attached statement of principles. Rafah will be opened as soon as it is ready to operate at an international standard in accordance with the specifications of this agreement and as soon as the 3rd party is on site, with a target date of November 25.

2. Crossing Points
The parties have agreed that: The passages will operate continuously. On an urgent basis, Israel will permit the export of all agricultural products from Gaza during this 2005 harvest season. The new and additional scanner will be installed and fully operational by December 31. At that time, the number of export trucks per day to be processed through Karni will reach 150, and 400 by end-2006. A common management system will be adopted by both parties. In addition to the number of trucks above, Israel will permit export of agricultural produce from Gaza and will facilitate its speedy exit and onward movement so that quality and freshness can be maintained. Israel will ensure the continued opportunity to export. To enhance operation, the parties agree that:
When a new generation of x-ray equipment able to scan trailers as well as containers becomes available it will be used. Once it arrives in the country, testing will also be carried out with the assistance of the Quartet Special Envoy.
The USSC will ensure continuing consultation, with unresolved implementation issues to be discussed as needed with the parties. The PA will ensure that the passages will be protected on the Palestinian side of the border and will train and upgrade the management of all crossings to ensure efficiency and effectiveness.
The PA will establish, without delay, a unified system of border management.
The management system that has been developed for Karni should, with suitable local variations, be adapted to the passages at Erez and Kerem Shalom. Israel also undertakes to put in place similar arrangements as appropriate that will make West Bank passages fully operational as soon as possible. A bilateral committee, with participation as needed of the Quartet Special Envoy and/or the USSC, will develop operational procedures for those passages.

3. Link between Gaza and the West Bank
Israel will allow the passage of convoys to facilitate the movements of goods and persons. Specifically:
Establish bus convoys by December 15.
Establish truck convoys by January 15.
Work out detailed implementation arrangements in a bilateral committee of the GoI and PA with participation as needed from the Quartet team and the USSC. It is understood that security is a prime and continuing concern for Israel and that appropriate arrangements to ensure security will be adopted.

4. Movement within the West Bank
Consistent with Israel's security needs, to facilitate movement of people and goods within the West Bank and to minimize disruption to Palestinian lives, the ongoing work between Israel and the U.S. to establish an agreed list of obstacles to movement and develop a plan to reduce them to the maximum extent possible will be accelerated so that the work can be completed by December 31.

5. Gaza Seaport
Construction of a seaport can commence. The GoI will undertake to assure donors that it will not interfere with operation of the port. The parties will establish a U.S.-led tripartite committee to develop security and other relevant arrangements for the port prior to its opening. The 3rd party model to be used at Rafah will provide the basis for this work.

6. Airport
The parties agree on the importance of the airport. Discussions will continue on the issues of security arrangements, construction, and operation.

On June 2006, funds to repair boats and gear

Clicking on the title, you will find a link to a project by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) launched in June 2006. The project provided funds to Gaza Strip fishers to repair their boats and replace essential equipment such as engines and fishing gear.

The ICRC page contains a link to a video, shot on 6 June 2006 during the sardine season (usually around May) in Gaza. The video, which is 6"38, shows Rafah beach fishers. It highlights some of the problems fishers have, i.e.: after years of disuse, boats are rusty; fishers can't afford the costs of repair as they were subject to fishing restrictions for years; fishers also say that the permitted fishing area, 10 nautical mile limit along 38 kilometres of the Gaza coast, is not extended enough for them to catch best fish shoals; it is forbidden to sell the fish in other Palestinian markets in the West Bank (Israelis control borders); Israeli navy shoots at them when they are out at sea.

The situation has since then changed. Fishers don't have access to fishing grounds again. Yet it is still interesting to view the video and read the script.

link to the video: http://real.xobix.ch/ramgen/icrc/2006/video/news-cut/gaza-fishermen-newscut-060706.rm

Continuing fishing restrictions

Food situation in Gaza remains critical with more than 70% of the population unable to cover their daily food needs without assistance.

In the meantime, Israeli naval vessels continue to restrict access to fishing grounds in front of the Gaza Strip.

United Nations Agencies working in the occupied Palestinian territory say

Another statement on Gaza by United Nations Agencies working in the Palestinian territory dated 3rd August 2006. The agencies are alarmed by the continuing violence facing 1.4 million people in Gaza.

The fishing sector is still subject to severe fishing restrictions - boats are not leaving port. These restrictions are crippling the industry and the income of some 35,000 people who live off the industry. There is an absence of fish on the local market and the declining cash income and dwindling international aid are impairing the ability of fishers to aquire spare parts for fishing boat maintenance.

Disproportionate use of force, UN Emergency Coordinator says

Fishers still can't access the sea. UN Emergency Coordinator condemns Israel's disproportinate use of force, as 22 Palestinians were killed and 67 injured in the last 36 hours in the Strip of Gaza.

Fishers unable to access the sea since 25 June

Fishers unable to access the sea since 25 June - which also means that there is no fish for sale on the local market and that people dependent on fishing for their living have no money to bring home.

Click on link for further information on the situation in the Gaza Strip. The information is dated 18 July 2006 and provided by OCHA.

Gaza Strip Humanitarian Report

Latest OCHA Humanitarian Update dated July, 12 2006. OCHA (United Nations Agency) aims to improve the humanitarian situation by enhancing coordination between agencies to ensure effective distribution of humanitarian assistance. It also enhances coordination and decision making through its dissemination of humanitarian information and analysis of facts.

Gaza fishers grounded

Fishing fleet forced back to the shore. below an extract of the article written by By DIAA HADID, Associated Press Writer:

"Israel, which maintained control of Gaza's coast even after its pullout last year, sealed off the sea with naval gunboats after a soldier was captured in a June 25 militant raid on an army post.
The army says the coastal closure is crucial to stopping the militants from smuggling the soldier into nearby Egypt by boat.
It has also stranded about 3,000 Palestinian fisherman on shore for 10 days, costing the local economy $250,000 in losses, said Tarek Saker, director general of fisheries at the Palestinian Agriculture Ministry.
With about 43 percent of the Palestinian population living in poverty and unemployment at 23 percent, every fish caught counts. The fishing industry supports tens of thousands of workers, from the fishermen to those who make the nets and fix the boats, Saker said.
The industry became even more important to Gaza's economy earlier this year, when Israel and the West started an international boycott of the Hamas-led Palestinian government, which has left 165,000 civil servants without salaries since April.
Before Israeli-Palestinian fighting broke out in 2000, fishing accounted for almost 7 percent of agricultural output, said Saker. But last year, Palestinian fishermen caught half as much as they did in 1999 — largely because of the Israeli restrictions.
"When the fishing season is at its peak, this is the people's food and they eat fish for breakfast, lunch and dinner," Saker said."

Statement by the United Nations Agencies working in the occupied Palestinian territory

UN Agencies Statement containing details on the situation in Gaza and calling for the Government of Israel to restore and maintain the supply of fuel to Gaza, to replace the destroyed equipment at the Gaza power plant, to ensure the passage of food and essential supplies at Karni commercial crossing and to lift the restrictions on movement and access to Gaza for UN agencies.

Profile: Gaza Strip

"The Gaza Strip is a narrow piece of land along the Mediterranean coast between Israel and Egypt. Just 40km long and 10km wide, it is home to more than 1.4m Palestinians"

BBC article dated 27 June 2006 describing Gaza. The article, which does not go into details (no mention of fisheries) gives a good (and short) account of Gaza history, its population centres, refugee camps, borders, entry/exit points, militant activity and the former settlement zone.

Gaza Beach Donkey

a photo provided by Greg (thanks!) showing Gaza beach donkeys. Fishers put fish on donkeys and go to the auctioneer (middleperson) who then sells the fish to merchants, shops, restaurants. Fish price is set by the auctioneer. Every fish landed has to be sold to him. He buys his licence 300 000 US dollar a year to the Palestinian Authority. And he charges fishers 5% of value of catch and fish merchants 3%, giving a total of 8%.