“As far as the government is concerned, even if there is a will to do something, they lack the proper know-how,” he said. “Even if we scientists draw up solutions, there is no chance they will be implemented.”
Bariche said he has been working directly with fishermen to convince them to create marine reserves or protected areas or risk losing their livelihood.
“We need to convince them that these reserves are for their own good, otherwise there will soon be nothing left to fish,” he said.
Most of the fish caught in Lebanon come from Israel and Egypt as drifting larvae, since the currents flow north. Lebanon also imports seafood from Turkey, Egypt and countries in the Gulf region.
Ironically, Taha said, when Israel had its troops stationed in southern Lebanon, there were more fish to catch as fishermen were not allowed to go out to sea at night.
“After the Israelis withdrew, the fishermen went out day and night, leaving no room for the fish to breath,” he said. “A fish can’t lift its head out of the water here without having 20 fishermen go after it.”
Dahej el-Mokdad, head of the department of fisheries and wildlife at the ministry of agriculture, acknowledged that new ground rules are needed on how fishing is conducted in Lebanon but said lack of funds and political bickering have hampered progress.
“We don’t have the means to do our job,” he said. “We don’t even have patrol boats and no one considers our sea as a national treasure.”
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