The Fishing Sector in the Gaza Strip

Since mid-2009, increasing numbers
of fishermen and other workers have begun working in the fishing sector in the
Gaza Strip. This increase is a result of
the high unemployment levels among Palestinian workers who were previously
employed in other economic sectors that suffered significant
deterioration. Hundreds of workers and
fishermen who abandoned the fishing industry in the past because of the Israeli
attacks along the shore in the Gaza Strip resumed their work in the fishing
industry. According to statistics
provided by Gaza’s Fishermen Union, since the beginning of the current year,
the number of fishermen and workers in the fishing sector has increased from
7,457 to 8,200 fishermen and workers. These fishermen and workers provide for approximately 50,000
individuals. Since the beginning of this
2010, the number of fishermen in Gaza has increased from 3,403 to 3,700. They are distributed among the different
areas of the Gaza Strip as follows: 200 fishermen in the northern Gaza Strip; 1,900 in Gaza City; 500 in the central Gaza
Strip; 700 in
Khan Yunis; and 400 in
Rafah. 

The number of fish traders and
amateurs who fish irregularly has also increased – from approximately 1,054 in 2009 to
approximately 2,000 in
May 2010. This number is distributed
among the various areas of the Gaza Strip. The number of workers in occupations associated with fishing has
increased from approximately 2,000
in 2009 to approximately 2,500 in 2010. These workers in professions associated with
the fishing sector manufacture and maintain fishing boats, prepare fishing
nets, manufacture ice needed to preserve fish, or clean and sell fish.

This increase in the number of
fishermen and workers in the fishing sector is reflected on fishing equipment
ownerd by Gaza’s fishermen. The total
number of fishing boats has increased from 975 boats of various sizes to 1,249
boats, distributed among the different areas of the Gaza Strip as follows:

Table I: Number of Fishermen and Fishing Tools, May 2010

Israeli Attacks on Palestinian
Fishermen

Between 1 January 2010 and 30 April
2010, there was a significant increase in the Israeli attacks on the
Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) documented 19 attacks
launched by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) against Palestinian fishermen
at sea. PCHR documented 9 incidents in
which IOF fired at Palestinian fishermen, including two incidents in which two
fishermen were injured. These fishermen
are Hazem Ahmed Juma’a al-Qur’an, 27, and Yousef Husam al-Habbash, 15, both
from Deir al-Balah. The documented
attacks took place as follows:

At approximately 09:30 on 25 March
2010, IOF gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats that were sailing
approximately 800 meters
off the northern shore of the Gaza Strip, opposite tthe al-Waha resort in the
northwest of Beit Lahia town. Hazem
Ahmed Juma’a al-Qur’an, 27, from the central Gaza Strip town of Deir al-Balah,
was wounded by shrapnel to the head. Al-Qur’an was wounded while on his boat, which was heavily damaged due
to the heavy shooting. At approximately
09:55, al-Qur’an arrived at Kamal ‘Edwan Hospital in Beit Lahia. Medical sources at the Hospital described his
condition as moderate to serious. At approximately
10:45, he was transferred to Shifa hospital for additional medical
treatment. 

Jamil al-Aqra’a, a fisherman who was
at the scene at the time of the incident, told PCHR:

“The gunboats opened fire at
Palestinian fishing boats directly. Al-Qur’an,
who was on his boat with another two fishermen, was wounded in the head as a
result. They left their fishing nets in
the water and rushed to rescue him.”

On 21 April 2010, IOF gunboats
opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats off the Rafah shore. Yousef Husam al-Habbash, 15, was wounded in
the right hand as a result. 

PCHR also documented a additional 3
attacks against Palestinian fishermen at sea. In these attacks, IOF arrested 11 fishermen. PCHR also documented 6 attacks on fishing
boats and nets at sea, including 4 attacks in which IOF confiscated 4 fishing
boats. PCHR documented 2 incidents in
which IOF destroyed fishing tools and equipment at sea. 

Table II: IOF Attacks against Fishermen in 2010