Located on the Mediterranean Sea, the Gaza strip has an area of 360 sq. km and is home to some two million people. The coastline is 40 km long and has supported fishing activities for many years. Today, however, the fishing sector faces a number of environmental challenges including coastal erosion, high salinity of the water, excessive sediment (particularly around the port of Gaza, and human impacts such as the large volumes of wastewater that flow into the sea, and overfishing.
Between 1967 and 1978 Gaza experienced its golden age of fishing. From an area of around 180 km, starting from Gaza beach to Bardawil Lake near the Egyptian city Al Areesh, the catch reached 60 tonnes per day. Gaza sent fish, specially sardines and rock hind (lokos, Epinephelus adscensionis), to the West Bank and to 48 countries until 1986. From then exports declined both in variety and volume before stopping completely in 2000.
Shrinking area in which to fish
As a result of Israeli restrictions, the fishing limit – the distance out from shore – was gradually decreased to around 82 km, then to 20 miles. Under the Oslo Accords the limit shrank further, to 3 miles at one point, then stabilized at 6 miles, although the best fishing is further offshore, starting at 9 miles.
Today the number of officially registered fishermen is between 3,600 and 3,850. However, it is thought that there are some 2,000 seasonal fishermen operating without a license, so the true number is probably much larger. Ten percent of the fishermen operate big launches, and another tenth are new fishermen who used to work previously as farmers. The rest work on small boats, inherited the profession of fishing from their parents, and consider fishing as their only source of income. In addition, some 500 people are in fishing-related employment including traders, maintenance workers, vessel construction workers, and fishing equipment suppliers.
Institutional framework is rickety
The fisheries sector is administered by the General Directorate of Fisheries which is part of the Ministry of Agriculture. It is the competent authority responsible for the management of fishery resources and the development of fish farming systems. In addition, the directorate licenses fishermen and vessels, oversees the sustainability of fishing activities, and introduces new species for farming. The Al Tawfiq cooperative society of fishermen has 400 members who are owners of big launches, while the Fishermen Association represents all fishermen and provides them with services including conflict resolution, and distribution of food parcels when necessary, against a membership fee of ILS20.
The municipalities run fish markets, where prices are determined by supply and demand. Sellers on the market pay a fee of 3% of sales, while buyers pay a fee of 4% of their purchases. The infrastructure at fish markets varies – Rafah, Khanyounis, and Deir Al Balah markets are simple and located directly on the beach, while Gaza market is more sophisticated. Other institutions include the General Federation of Trade Unions which provides health insurance for fishermen for an annual fee of ILS20.
The fishing license fee is ILS25 per year and is issued by the General Directorate of Fisheries. The annual vessel license fee is ILS300 or ILS70 for a small vessel and is issued by the Ministry of Transportation. The Fishermen Association provides limited service
Despite the hardships fish is still landed
Several species of fish are targeted by the fishermen. Sardine is one of the most popular species accounting for 40-70% of the total catch. Goatfishes, rock hind, and shrimp are infrequently caught and are therefore highly valued, while bonito, and striped seabream are seasonal. The most commonly farmed fish is gilthead seabream, but farmed production. Prices per kilo range from ILS15-20 for sardines, to ILS120 for rock hind. Shrimp and goatfishes reach ILS100, while gilthead seabream costs ILS40. Mullet and other fish that reach Gaza through tunnels tend to be cheaper at ILS20. According to Nizar Ayyash, chairman of the fishermen’s association, fish production before 2001 reached 4,000 tonnes/year, enough to meet the needs of the local market and for export.
Fishing vessels in Gaza include traction vessels used to catch shrimp, goatfishes, and striped seabream, and shanshioleh vessels that are used for sardines, tuna, and other fish types. The traction vessels usually have a 400 hp motor, are equipped with cranes, and use about 300 litres of fuel per day. Small vessels have lights and smaller cranes on board.
| Fishing vessels in Gaza, 2016 | ||||||
| Total | Traction vessel | Shanshioleh | Small Shanshioleh | Small motor | Floka | Location |
| 602 | 15 | 42 | 80 | 265 | 200 | Gaza |
| 201 | 0 | 1 | 30 | 100 | 70 | Deir Al Bala |
| 199 | 0 | 4 | 25 | 120 | 50 | Khanyounes |
| 215 | 0 | 5 | 30 | 120 | 60 | Rafah |
| 1217 | 15 | 52 | 165 | 605 | 380 | Total |
During the sardine season the revenue per trip for a vessel with a crew of 15 is around ILS4,000 and a vessel can make about 50 trips, while for a small vessel with an 8-person crew the revenue per trip is about ILS2,600. Among the risks the fishermen face are sudden changes in weather change, especially during winter, when storms, or even hurricanes, strong winds, and high waves are not uncommon. In addition to this, there can be unexpected accidents such as fire or equipment malfunctions. The crew on board should therefore have a number of qualifications to cope with these risks, including, swimming skills, familiarity with equipment such as GPS, fish detectors, and weather forecasting tools, as well as patience, and the ability to respect the captain’s orders. Fishermen are also subject to other risks related to the political status of Gaza.
Seabream is the main farmed species
There are two types of aquaculture projects in Gaza. One involves fixed or floating cages in the sea, however funding for the project is lacking. Fishponds, on the other hand, are fairly common on the Gaza Strip and are used to farm gilthead seabream and mullet. Among the projects are three ponds which produce around 100 tonnes/year, or 300,000 fish. This project created 30 jobs. The cost of each fishpond is around USD50,000, while the overall cost of the project is USD1.2m. Although successful the project faces a number of challenges such as, the lack of a steady supply of electricity and problems obtaining feed and eggs. Another four similar projects produce about 3,000 tonnes of gilthead seabream.
For the people of Gaza fish is an essential source of animal protein and a food that is rich in phosphorus. Fish is cooked in different ways: frying, grilling, and as a shrimp bowl. Fish is one of the most common basic meals in the restaurants and hotels scattered on the beach. The vast majority of the population in Gaza eats locally-caught sardines or imported frozen fish from time to time. Other fresh fish is expensive and hard to get. Canned fish too is popular and is an essential component of food parcels during crises and wars.
Flashes of hope punctuate a generally desolate scenario
The political situation in Gaza presents a number of direct and indirect challenges to the fisheries sector. In addition, however, trawling in nursery areas, the build-up of sediment in the port area, the lack of properly functioning institutions, and poor coordination between them, nepotism, misallocation of aid, and the lack of legal mechanisms to protect and compensate fishermen, as well as unlicensed fishing, poor inspection and control, and overfishing are among the many difficulties faced by fishermen in Gaza. Individual fishermen also suffer from the high rate of attrition of their equipment, the high cost of maintenance, and rising fuel prices. Some NGO’s such as PARC (Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees), Mercy Corps, and Qatar Charity try to help matters with projects that, for example, provide fishing equipment such as motors and lights. Or they will pay off fishermen’s debts related to the living costs of a fisherman’s family, or the purchase of equipment or maintenance.
The fishermen also need some infrastructure including markets in the southern governorates, an upgrade to the port, especially the removal of sediment, and floats for the vessels to prevent collisions. Many of these circumstances contribute to the risk that marine resources in Gaza may be wiped out altogether. Fishermen think that creating artificial reefs in the water may attract more fish to the area, but as long as some of the other problems remain unresolved, it is unlikely to help much.
Tayseer Muhaisen
Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees
February 2017