Economic prospects for the development of fish resources in the Gaza Strip

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the economic prospects of the fishery sector in the Gaza Strip, and to identify the indicators and components of agricultural economy in the Gaza Strip. In this regard, the study used two fishery measuring models: the first one used the marine catchment basin as a dependent variable, and the second one used fish farming as a dependent variable. To achieve its objectives, the study used the descriptive analytical method, and arrived at the following results: There is a decline in the contribution of the agricultural sector in the Palestinian GDP. Fishery sector contribution is even smaller. The study also concluded the following: there will be an agricultural trade balance deficit on the long run, contribution of fishermen to the labor force does not exceed 0.5%, price of the fish sourced from the marine basin is flexible compared to the fish farms, fish consumption rates are much lower than the international standards, human rights organizations are unable to provide protection for fishermen, there are a few fish farming projects in the Gaza Strip as a result of the absence of adopted priorities and incentives in the government's agenda to encourage investors, there is no relationship between the production amount of the marine catchment basin and the amount of fish imports. The study recommended several recommendations, including: increasing private sector investment in fish farming and encouraging its involvement in the economic development process by providing all the required measures of facilitation and support, to exert pressure by all possible means on the Israeli side to allow fishermen permanently to reach a distance of 20 nautical miles, without any aggression concerning their equipment, and to establish a research and experiments unit to encourage collaboration with researchers in the development of fish farming methods.