Fishing is one of main pillars of Palestinian economy in the Gaza Strip. Since 1967, Israel has inflicted onerous ad hoc restrictions on Palestinian fishermen operating off the Gaza Coast and rendered 85% of the maritime space in Gaza inaccessible. Under the Oslo Agreements, the fishing range was 20 nautical miles (approximately 37 km). However, over the years, the Israeli military has gradually reduced this range, severely damaging the livelihood of thousands of families and the availability of this basic and inexpensive food in the markets, which had served as a significant nutritional source. Data from the UN agency, OCHA indicate that, between 2000 and 2010, the number of fishermen in Gaza dropped from about 10,000 to fewer than 4,000 [2].  Israel’s consecutive military attacks on the Gaza Strip and the deliberate targeting of vital infrastructure and damage to sewage facilities have had serious environmental consequences destroying vital fish habitats. All aspects of Palestinian fishing industry have been impacted from attacks on fishermen, willful killing, unlawful detentions, and the forced removal of fishermen from occupied territory. The closure of Gaza's sea and land buffer has crippled the economy and reduced the supply of fish, a protein rich source of food. This in a situation where 57 percent of the population in the Gaza Strip, are currently food insecure.   In 2000, the reduction of the fishing zone to 6 nautical miles (nm) resulted in widespread food shortages, with wholesalers reporting 100 percent fish shortages in the West Bank and 33 percent fish shortages in Gaza. Further the restrictions on fishing since 2001 have “led to intensive, close-shore fishing which has depleted stocks from the natural breeding grounds and threatened the fisheries resource base” [1]. This range is sometimes further reduced to 3 (nm) [2].  To enforce the closure, Israel routinely attacks Palestinian fishermen using live ammunition, and arrests, detains and removes protected Palestinian civilian fishermen beyond the borders of the occupied territory. Israel’s navy also routinely seizes Palestinian fishing boats charging a substantial 500 NIS fee for their return, amounting to unlawful requisition [1,2].

All aspects of Palestinian fishing industry have been impacted from attacks on fishermen, willful killing, unlawful detentions, and the forced removal of fishermen from occupied territory. The closure of Gaza's sea and land buffer has crippled the economy and reduced the supply of fish, a protein rich source of food, to the point that 57 percent of the population in the Gaza Strip, are currently food insecure.