Nicosia: Agriculture Minister, Nizar Hani, on Wednesday warned that Lebanon's fishing sector faces mounting threats from climate change, overfishing, pollution, and Israeli attacks, during a Mediterranean fisheries ministerial conference held in Nicosia under the MedFish4Ever programme.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, Hani stated that Israeli attacks had severely damaged Lebanon's agricultural and fisheries sectors, reducing national agricultural output by more than 22% and destroying key fishing infrastructure, including Naqoura port and trout farms.
Hani outlined a national plan to revive the sector through emergency support for fishermen, infrastructure upgrades, tighter regulation, and expanded marine protected areas. He also announced the completion of a fisheries and aquaculture law, developed with the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, aimed at protecting biodiversity, regulating fishing, and supporting sustainable marine resources.
The conference focused on regional cooperation to combat overfishing and safeguard Mediterranean marine ecosystems.