Gaza fishing zone restricted after brief expansion

After less than three months during which the Israeli authorities expanded the fishing zone along the southern Gaza coast from six to nine nautical miles (NM),  the six NM limit was re-imposed on 27 June. The brief expansion on 3 April 2016 was less than the 20 NM agreed to as part of the Oslo Accords, but the Fisherman’s Syndicate estimated that it had led to an increase of 25 per cent in the quantity and diversity of the fishing catch.

Since September 2000, Israel has tightened restrictions on Palestinian access to the sea and to land located near the fence with Israel (Access Restricted Areas), citing security concerns. These restrictions are enforced by firing direct or warning live ammunition, the destruction of property, arrests and the confiscation of equipment. Israel and Egypt also impose a “no fishing zone” along their respective maritime boundaries with Gaza. Over 35,000 Palestinians depend on this industry for their livelihoods.