Severe Losses Incurred by Fish Farm Owners in the Gaza Strip
(AWP) - In one of the largest fish farming facilities in Khan Yunis, in southern Gaza, hundreds of fish float on the water of artificial ponds, while others are thrown away after they die due to the lack of means to keep them alive as a result of the Israeli war on the Strip.
Workers at the fish farm estimate its losses at approximately three million US dollars following the depletion of fuel that feeds alternative generators for the electricity that was already cut off for weeks, in addition to the lack of fish feed that can only be brought from Israel.
"The fish are dying, there is no food for them, the farm lacks electricity and the necessities of life, and the electrical power of the alternative generators cannot last for more than 30 to 33 days." - Ahed Zaarab, a worker at the farm
He adds, "We have used all our efforts and fuel savings to save this project. Almost 80 percent of the project is over. What little stock remains is allocated to the needy and the displaced, while the sick fish or the fish dying due to lack of food are among the losses estimated to be huge."
Zaarab couldn’t hide his sadness at the state of the project due to the war, saying:
"Gaza has suffered a great loss by losing such a project. In addition to containing fish not found in the seas of Palestine and the region, more than 50 families live off the benefits of this project. Farm workers will lose their jobs as this project stops by next Saturday due to the lack of fuel and electricity because of the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip." - Ahed Zaarab, a worker at the farm
The facility's losses are not limited to the dead fish and the lack of profits from the small remaining stocks but also threaten the jobs of at least 300 of its workers.
Another worker said, "Huge losses. The lack of electricity and gas will cause job losses of 300 or more workers by the middle of this month, as we will open the farm to the sea to release the fish, and we will be without work. We got rid of large quantities of dead fish as fish feed comes to us from Israel, and there is no feed, fuel, or anything else now."
As the war on Gaza continues, fish has become one of the almost scarce food commodities in the Gaza Strip’s markets, and what is available is sold at a very high price compared to prices before the war.
The Palestinian News Agency (WAFA) quoted the Central Bureau of Statistics as saying that the war has led to an unprecedented increase in the price of food in Gaza in light of scarcity in the markets.