(haipo) The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the Israel Nature and Parks Authority issued a joint statement today, stating that the determination of fishing arrangements for the 2026 breeding and recruitment season in the Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Galilee has been completed. The arrangements, which were determined for the first time on the recommendation of a broad professional committee and in an orderly and transparent process, include fishing prohibition periods, the suspension of trawl fishing, a list of fish species prohibited from fishing throughout the breeding season, and the operation of a dedicated program to monitor the effectiveness of the restrictions, all as part of a comprehensive policy to preserve fish resources and the marine ecosystem.
Prohibition periods: May to August 2026
The Fisheries Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security announced that the fishing ban period during the breeding season in the Mediterranean Sea will apply from May 1 to June 30, 2026, and will include all fishing methods. In addition, it was decided to Discontinuation of trawl fishing during the recruitment season בין July 1 to August 31, 2026The purpose of the restrictions is to allow fish to reproduce and join the adult population, while maintaining a balance between environmental conservation and the continuation of responsible fishing activities.
List of species prohibited from fishing throughout the breeding season
As part of the decisions, a designated list of fish species that are prohibited from fishing throughout the breeding season, and by all existing fishing methods. Among the species included in the list: loaches, sprues, wrasses, and other species of high conservation and commercial importance.
The list was formulated by a broad professional committee, with the participation of representatives from government ministries, academic researchers, representatives of the Nature and Parks Authority, and representatives of the fishing community, from commercial fishing and sport fishing.
Enhanced maritime surveillance and information for fishermen
The Nature and Parks Authority, which is responsible for supervising fishing on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, will work in collaboration with the Ministry to strengthen enforcement and information during the ban periods. Supervision will be carried out at sea, at anchorages and fishing shops, throughout the day and with reinforced teams, in order to ensure compliance with the restrictions and the preservation of the fish resource.
Monitoring, research and a new management model
As part of deepening the scientific basis for decision-making, the Fisheries Division is working in collaboration with experts from the Israel Institute of Marine and Lake Research to develop a dedicated model for fisheries management in Israel. The model, adapted to the characteristics of local fisheries and the ecological data of the Mediterranean Sea, will allow for the examination of various scenarios and the assessment of their impact on fish populations and the ecosystem.
At the same time, the Fisheries Department invests in-One million shekels every year Monitoring activities, including a dedicated program that will also be implemented during the breeding season. The program is designed to examine the implementation of restrictions and assess the survival of fish that are not allowed in fishing if they are caught and returned to the sea.
Ease invasive species fishing
It was also decided to expand the fishing permit for invasive species, so that from May 2026 it will be possible to fish for these species by free diving without depth restrictions, as part of the fight against their negative impact on the local ecosystem.
“A leap forward in fisheries resource management”
Dr. David Assaf, Senior Deputy Director for Environmental Resources Management at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, He said: "The 2026 fishing arrangements reflect a professional leap forward in the management of the national fishery resource. The recommendations were formulated through a transparent and data-based process and combine preserving the marine ecosystem with ensuring the economic stability of the fishing industry. We will continue to lead a responsible regulatory policy, in broad dialogue with all stakeholders, for the future of the Mediterranean."
Did the article interest you?
Oh, where have we come? I understand that even a fisherman waiting with a rod on Sunday will be cut off and harm the hobby of thousands of fishermen.
Everyone is right, but there must be supervision of fishing because if they keep fishing, it will reach a point in the world where there will be no more fish. We need to think ahead or future generations will see fish in movies like dinosaurs and cumin. Yes, preserving wildlife and flora. Give me an example of a carob tree, for example, which a person plants and will bear fruit for the first time only after 100 years. After which it will bear fruit for 70 years yes and 70 years no. So whoever planted this tree took care of himself or future generations and he himself ate carobs from something that spoiled the tree 100 years earlier. Do you understand our role as humans to take care of everything? Otherwise, we will become extinct in the world.
In order to try to get rid of invasive species, fishermen could be paid a certain amount for invasive fish caught by them, perhaps this would reduce their spread somewhat.
The Ministry of Agriculture is the most corrupt ministry in the State of Israel. It has no oversight of anything in the country. Those who invented the idea of drawing in the sea are the authority that destroys nature here in the country. It does not set laws or regulations. First of all, they should go and supervise the crops here in the country that are being sprayed with carcinogenic sprays. They don't care. The Nature and Parks Authority only looks for scum from nature. It doesn't care about nature at all.
right
Well done
This is important, but there are species that are not allowed to be taken out of the sea, such as loaches, for example. Zaharonim is allowed freely, a great invasive fish, admittedly, but very tasty, with soft, white, sweet meat.