Israeli blockade sinks fish industry

Gaza City: Marwan Abu Juma, a 43-year-old father of 10, hasn't made enough money from fishing since 2000, but his life has been particularly difficult for the past several months. "I can barely cover the expenses of fishing and save some money for my house and children," the Gaza fisherman told Gulf News, as he sat on the deck of his small, wooden boat, known locally as a felucca. "It's too much hard work and very little money." He added.

Seven of his children attend elementary and preparatory schools. Abu Juma blames his problems on the Israeli occupation and its oppressive practices and restrictions as well.

The Gaza blockade is causing severe shortages of fuel and gas supplies - the backbone of the fishing business. The open-decked feluccas need fuel to run their engines and gas to operate large lamps, whose bright lights attract the fish at night.

In the aftermath of this, the fishermen then capture the fish in their nets and then draw them on board in a night of long and heavy labour. Abu Juma is one of thousands of Gaza fishermen reeling under the Israeli closure of the Gaza Strip and its Mediterranean shores. Being caught between the Israeli restrictions and shortage of fuel supplies, they are struggling to make ends meet.

"We suffer too much because of the loss of fuel and gas which are considered the spirit of our work in the sea," said Salim Baker - married, a father of five, breadwinner for an extended family of 39 members. Helpless and desperate, the fishermen are using cooking oil to run the engines of their boats, colouring the dark exhaust with a burning orange glow. "Look! My son is pouring cooking oil to fill the fuel tank of the felucca in order to sail," says Baker, pointing to his son. "This is the problem of more than 3,000 fishermen along the Gaza shores," complained Nizar Ayyash, the head of the Gaza Fishermen Syndicate.

He said only 30 per cent of about 600 boats were operational while the rest were moored in the small harbour at Gaza City. A combination of damage to fishing resources caused by the Israeli offensive and restrictions on zones in which Gazans are allowed to fish is reducing catches and adversely affecting people's diets in Gaza, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

In January this year, Israeli authorities reduced the area in which fishermen could fish - down from six to three nautical miles from Gaza's coastline. In Rafah (southern Gaza) fishing has almost ground to a halt due to damage inflicted on fishing gear and boats during the 22-day war which ended on January 18. Fishing nets, rope, twine and gas mantles are in short supply due to the blockade, OCHA stated, along with engines and spare parts. "During the Israeli Operation 'Cast Lead' a naval closure was imposed on the Gaza Strip. Following the end of fighting the navy decided to allow fishing from up to three miles from the coast," said Omar Najati an official in the ministry of agriculture.

"The closure was imposed as another variety of Israeli aggression against Gaza's already crippling economy," he added. Before the year 2000, fishing was allowed up to 12 nautical miles from the coast.

By Bilal Badwan, Gulfnews Correspondent