Crabs provide summer livelihood for Gaza fishermen

EXCLUSIVE PICTURES

Crab fishing on the coast of the Gaza Strip flourishes at this time of year as the crustaceans proliferate and their huge numbers attract the territory’s otherwise beleaguered fishermen. It is no exaggeration to say that the crabs are the main source of the fishing crews’ income during the summer months.

---

The fishermen cast their nets in the evening and pull them in full of crabs in the morning. All family members are recruited for the time-consuming task of picking them out of the nets very carefully.

A box full of crabs weighing around 5kg will fetch about $8 (£5) in the local market. That is the price for 1kg when the crabs are exported to Egypt. However, the current difficulties facing the operators of the tunnels between Gaza and Egypt are having an effect on the export opportunities for the fishermen, a small but significant example of the effect of Israel’s blockade on the economy of Gaza.

MEMO Photographer: Mohammed Asad