Lebanon has taken a significant leap in managing its marine resources with the approval of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Law. This legislative move, described as 'historic' by the Ministry of Agriculture, aims to establish a sustainable blue economy and modern legal framework for organizing the fisheries sector according to international standards.
In a statement, the Ministry of Agriculture highlighted that the law enhances food security, boosts national production, and prioritizes the protection of small-scale artisan fishing as essential for sustainable marine development. It also offers cooperatives of fishermen priority in aquaculture investment projects, ensuring their direct involvement and economic benefits from the sector.
The law marks a significant shift in national fishery management policy, transitioning Lebanon from a reliance on traditional fishing to scientific resource management and organized aquaculture investment. This opens new economic growth opportunities and strengthens the sector's contribution to sustainable development.
The legislation gives special attention to safeguarding small-scale artisanal fishing, regulating the profession, preserving fishermen's acquired rights, and ensuring their livelihoods' sustainability. It also solidifies their role in coastal community development and ensures they aren't adversely affected by new investment projects but rather become partners and beneficiaries.
The law establishes a unified legal and administrative reference for managing marine and internal fishery and aquaculture sectors, enhancing good governance, unifying references, and elevating sector oversight and sustainable management.
The legislation encourages collective investment in aquaculture projects via fishermen's cooperatives and local associations, enabling direct participation in productive projects and improving their economic situation while boosting coastal area development.
Drawing on international best practices, the law aligns with guidance from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM). It focuses on sustainable fisheries management with comprehensive scientific plans based on research, preserving fish stocks, biodiversity, and marine habitats.
The ministry noted that, unprecedentedly, the law positions Lebanon in the marine fish farming sector, addressing its status as the last Mediterranean country not utilizing this productive activity. This opens up new investment opportunities, increases local production, reduces dependence on fish imports, and offers more competitive prices to Lebanese consumers. Moreover, it strengthens governance, combats illegal fishing, and creates jobs within the blue economy and sustainable development framework.
Protecting fisheries and small-scale artisan fishing are complementary goals, with responsible aquaculture investment acting as a lever for sector development. Fishermen's cooperatives and unions are given priority to benefit directly from the economic opportunities the law provides.
Concluding the statement, Minister of Agriculture Dr. Nizar Hani extended gratitude to everyone involved in drafting and developing the law, including ministry teams, FAO, GFCM, fishermen's unions and cooperatives, the parliamentary agriculture and tourism committee, joint parliamentary committees, and the Parliament. He affirmed that passing the law is a national achievement, setting Lebanon on a path of modern fishery management and ushering in a new phase of sustainable investment, protecting artisan fishing, safeguarding marine environments, and bolstering the national economy and food security.