Assessment of Fishing Fleet and its Related Gears in Lebanon

Under the patronage of H.E The Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Hassan Lakiss, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) in Lebanon, held an inception workshop at the Ministry of Agriculture on August 26, 2019 to launch the national project related to the assessment of the fishing fleet and its related gears in Lebanon.

The launch was attended by Mr. Ibrahim Al Hawi representing H.E the Minister of Agriculture and the Assistant of the FAO Representative in Lebanon, Ms. Solange Matta-Saade. The Director of Natural Resources and Rural Development department at the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Chadi Mhanna, also took part in the launch event along with the Senior Fisheries Officer in FAO Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa in Cairo, Dr. Haydar Fersoy, and representative of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean, Mr. Samir Majdalani. Guests included participants from various departments of the Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture, representatives from the Ministry of Public Works, institutions, universities and concerned stakeholders.

At the request of the Ministry of Agriculture, the project, through FAO’s technical cooperation programme, will provide, for the Lebanese Government, the technical assistance to accurately assess the fishing fleet, the fishing gears used and related activities. For this purpose, a national census will be conducted for the fishing fleet and its related gears. The project is expected to result in responsible fishing sustained improved livelihoods of fishers through good quality and quantity of landed fish.