extract from OCHA weekly report (4 – 10 March 2009) published on 12 March
Access to fisheries further restricted
The Israeli authorities further restricted the
access of Gaza’s fishermen to three nautical
miles from the shore. This is a reduction
from the six nautical miles imposed between
the time the blockade was imposed on Gaza
in June 2007 and the start of “Cast Lead” on
27 December. It is a significant reduction
from the 12 nautical miles Israel committed
to under the Bertini Commitments in 2002.
This reduction raises concerns over the
upcoming fishing season, which reaches its
annual peak in mid-April. In three separate
incidents (4, 6 and 10 March), Israeli patrol
boats fired towards Palestinian fishing boats,
forcing the boats to return to shore.
