Project for the preparation of a Strategic Action Plan for the ...

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SAP-BIO-Lebanon National Report Page 22 of 95 ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ Fishing in Lebanon is traditional as there are no trawler fleets as no trawling grounds. Statistics on fisheries including number of fishermen and fishing boats are at best educated guesses. There is an estimated 1000 fishing boats used by approximately 2500 fishermen who fish 300 days of the year. It is estimated that the annual catch is between 4,000 and 6,000 tons. Imported fish, mostly from Turkey, Egypt and from the Gulf, amount to 6,000-10,000 tons per annum. Based on these estimates annual fish consumption per capita stands at 3-5 Kg. Mostly because of financial considerations, Lebanese have abandoned many of their traditional cottage industries that were linked to the sea. There are numerous salt extraction ponds that could be revitalized, coupled with other traditionally coastal practices such as olive oil and carob extraction. A whole new meaning could be given to the idea of the integrated village along the coast. In this context, it is relevant to consider introducing new industries such as aquaculture as is the case in neighboring countries like Cyprus, Greece and Turkey. Such practices will ease the pressure on wild stocks and, at the same time, will provide employment to fishermen. 13. Existing legal regulations The MOA issued many decisions regulating fishing but there is an extensive lack of law enforcement. Illegal constructions have created irreparable damage to the coast. This state of affairs coupled with lack of law enforcement and land use plans has resulted in the gradual exclusion of the public from the coastal zone. As a result there is apathy and, at times, a lack of co-ordination amongst the various stakeholders. A new draft law for the restructuring of the MoE is awaiting endorsement and includes the setting up of an Advisory Council for the Environment that will take on this co-ordinating role. The following are some of the ministerial decisions that have direct impact on the marine ecosystem (please note that these regulations have been translated form the Arabic language): • Every professional fisherman must apply and receive a fishing permit that carries a personal photograph. Recreational fishermen must apply for a fishing permit that is given free of charge. A fine and/or imprisonment between two to ten days will be applied on all offenders. • It is prohibited to hunt from the coastline using fire-guns, even with a hunting permit, or if the sea depth is less than six meters. • A sentence of two to ten days will be applied on all fishing permit holders if caught fishing outside of the fishing season and assigned fishing grounds. • It is prohibited to net fish by disturbing the water in any means except by the use of paddles. Offenders will be subject to either a fine and/or imprisonment of six days to one month. • Any person caught using explosives or illegal baits for fishing, or any person selling products caught using the aforementioned techniques, or any party knowledgeable of such fishing methods will be penalized with a fine and/or imprisonment ranging form two months to two years • A fine and/or imprisonment will applied for the following offences: o Any party that manufactures or uses illegal fishing gear (nets, long line etc.) o Any party that does not return undersized fish to the sea • Ministerial decisions issued by the minister of agriculture banning the fishing of whales, monk seals and marine turtles (decision 125/1 date 23-9-99). • Ministerial decision regarding national standards for environment quality was issued by the MoE in January 2001 (decision 8/1). The decision defined the environmental limit values (ELV) for wastewater discharged into the sea. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Prepared By M. Nader & S. Talhouk June, 2002
SAP-BIO-Lebanon National Report Page 23 of 95 ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ 14. List of international Conventions, Protocols, etc. signed/ratified Lebanon has established legal commitments to participate in regional and international activities related to conservation and use of environment resources. These commitments include ACSAD, ICARDA, AOAD, IFAD, CIHEAM and IPGRI. Lebanon has also ratified or signed all international conventions related to global resources management and having direct or indirect impacts on biodiversity, such as The Basle Convention, The Montreal Protocol, The Convention to combat Desertification, Climate Change, Cultural and Natural Heritage (Paris 1972), RAMSAR Convention and the Convention on Biodiversity. At the UNCED, held on June 5, 1992 at Rio de Janeiro, Lebanon was among the 156 nations who signed the CBD. On August 01, 1994, Lebanon ratified the CBD and complied with its objectives to study, save, use and share benefits resulting from biodiversity. To fulfill the requirements of articles 6 and 26 of the convention, the Government of Lebanon executed through the MOE with the assistance of GEF UNDP the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan and the first National Report on Biodiversity in 1998. The Country Study on Biodiversity was carried out during 1995-1996 with assistance from GEF/UNEP in co-operation with the MoA. 14.1 The international conventions, Treaties and Protocols Signed or ratified by Lebanon (MOE) African Urasian Migratory Water Birds Agreement. Ratification 13/06/2002, Law number 412 Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic pollutants for adoption by the conference of plenipotentiaris. Signature: 22/5/2001 Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat.-Ramsar. Accession: 1/3/1999 by the law number 23 United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.-Paris. Ratification: 21/12/1994 by the law number 469 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.-Rio de Janeiro. Ratification: 11/8/1994 by the law number 359 Convention on Biological Diversity.-Rio de Janeiro. Ratification: 11/8/1994 by the law number 360 Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that deplete the Ozone Layer.-Copenhagen. Accession: 3/11/1999 by the law number 120 Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that deplete the Ozone Layer.-London. Accession: 31/3/1993 by the law number 253 Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal - Basel. Ratification: 21/12/1994 by the law number 387 Montreal Protocol on Substances that deplete the Ozone Layer.-Montreal. Accession: 31/3/1993 by the law number 253 Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer.-Vienna. Accession: 30/3/1993 by the law number 253 ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Prepared By M. Nader & S. Talhouk June, 2002
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