Big waves of fish in Gaza after days of rough seas

Marwa A

3 years ago

Palestinian fishermen in Gaza find an abundance of fish following days of high winds and rough seas grounded them, on 19 February 2021 [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]

Palestinian fishermen in Gaza, on 19 February 2021 [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]

Palestinian fishermen in Gaza find an abundance of fish following days of high winds and rough seas grounded them, on 19 February 2021 [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]

Fishermen in the occupied Gaza Strip have returned to their jobs after recent storms grounded them, the Ministry of Agriculture announced, adding that “65 tonnes” of fish had been caught since the rough weather subsided.

Safa quoted the ministry as saying that “ 31 tonnes of sardine, 32 of tarragona, one of canaan, and another of fattal were caught recently.”

The end of the annual stormy weather is a period of renewed hope for fishermen in the besieged enclave as it brings with it large quantities of fish.

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According to the Palestinian Fishermen’s Association in Gaza, there are some 4,000 fishermen working in Gaza’s fishing sector, who are looking after about 50,000 dependents.

The profession has been deemed dangerous by rights organisations due to Israel’s harassment of fishermen at sea.

Last year alone, Israeli occupation forces attacked Palestinian fishermen off the coast of the Gaza Strip on at least 320 occasions, the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC) reported, 63 more attacks than the previous year. Israel also closed the fishing area altogether for 16 days in August.