Issam Jheir, a fisherman from Naqoura village in South Lebanon tells us about the hardships the fishing profession has been facing during the last few years. Being a fisherman for more than 25 years, Issam remembers the good old days when fishing was very profitable. With the compounded effects of the economic crises that are hitting the country, lack of state electricity and high fuel prices, Issam cannot store or transport his fish and must sell them to the local fish market for low prices immediately upon return from the sea. These days, making ends meet has become exceedingly difficult for the fishermen of Naqoura village.
To alleviate some of this hardship on the fishermen’s families, UNIFIL Civil Affairs in collaboration with LEE Experience, a Non-Governmental Organization which stands for (Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Employment Development), implemented a project to empower 16 fishermen’s wives in the fish post-harvesting process. This venture introduces the women to new ways of processing the fish their husbands catch to increase the shelf life of the products and find new avenues of income.
Listen to Empowering Fishermen’s Wives radio episode to get the full story.