AUCTION AT THE FISH MARKET IN GAZA

We went to speak with the fishermen yesterday, to see the fish market before breakfast and after the UNs Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs occupied Palestinian territory (UN OCHA).

The harassment and shooting on fishermen has not been reduced since the last time we visit. That's 2 years ago. The Israeli navy also continues restricting access to a distance of up to three nautical miles from the shore, shooting on the boats, detaining fishermen and strip search them, confiscating nets and boats. UN OCHA told us that there are at least 5 incidents of this per week.

The fishermen situation is hardened by the fuel shortage. Since January 2012 fishing trips have been significantly reduced to less than four trips per boat a month, down from over 15 monthly trips, as a result of fuel shortages. To cope with the fuel crisis, the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) in Gaza has put a rationing mechanism in place, allocating around 20 litres of fuel per week for every fishing boat - an amount insufficient even for a one-day trip. Fuel is necessary to run the boats' generators and refrigerators.


It's a hard to get hold on the fish at the market. It looks like the guy in the middel has lost all hope.. The Gazans have just 3 kilo fish per person during a year.