The Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources, and Fisheries, Ezzeddine Ben Cheikh, announced yesterday that 914 fishing vessels over 15 meters long have been equipped with surveillance terminals, out of a total of 991. This initiative is part of efforts to combat illegal fishing.
During a plenary session at the Bardo Palace, in response to a question from Deputy Mahmoud Chalghef regarding the national strategy to combat illegal fishing, particularly around the island of Kerkennah, the minister outlined the measures that have been put in place.
Among them, an agreement was signed with the Ministry of National Defense to deploy 500 artificial reefs off the coast of El Attaya, an area particularly affected by this phenomenon.
These artificial reefs, he explained, aim to restore and protect the marine ecosystem by promoting the renewal of fishery resources. A study will soon be conducted to identify the most vulnerable areas and assess the need for artificial reefs, in partnership with the Ministry of Defense.
The minister recalled that this project, launched in 2009 with a budget of 5 million dinars, was initially planned to span a decade, but its implementation has been slowed down by financial constraints.
Finally, he emphasized that the fight against illegal fishing also relies on strengthening controls, carried out in coordination with the Ministries of the Interior, Transport, and Commerce.
Source: webdo
