Crabs offer alternative way of life to Gazans

GAZA－Every day, thousands of Palestinians, including fishermen and fishing enthusiasts, rush toward the Gaza sea, throwing their nets into the water to catch crabs.

During the fishing season between September and November, Palestinians rush to buy crabs due to their relatively low prices and the fact that some fish do not reach the Gaza coast at this time of the year.

Fisherman Bashir Muheisen used to benefit from the crab fishing season. However, it has become a tougher job. "We were allowed to fish within 20 nautical miles off coast, but the fishing areas further shrank after the blockade," said the 60-year-old.

Muheisen said he thought about looking for other jobs, but that was mission impossible.

"I spent most of my life in the sea. The many other fishermen and I cannot work in other fields," he said.

Together with two of his sons, Muheisen catches about 60 kilograms of crabs a day. They then sort them out in boxes to be sold in the local markets. "I can make about $80 a day. However, it is not solely for myself as I should pay other people to help me catch and sell them," he said.

'Golden chance'

Mahmoud al-Qouqa, a 40-year-old unemployed man from al-Shatea refugee camp, said the crab fishing season has been giving him a "golden chance" to make money even if it just lasts for a few months.

He graduated from university in 2006, but could not find work in the public or private sector, so al-Qouqa looked for a job in other fields such as cultivation, chauffeuring and catching crabs.

Al-Qouqa earns about $35 a day, but the father of four shares that money with his brother who has six children.

According to the Department of Fisheries in the Hamas-run Ministry of Agriculture, crabs are usually caught over the year through trawl nets. However, during autumn, the crabs head to the beaches in large numbers, making them more accessible to fishermen.

"Every day of the autumn season, the fishermen in the Gaza Strip catch about 2,000 kg of crabs," said the ministry in a press statement.

Mohammed al-Aqraa from Gaza City said he buys crabs for his family at least once a week. "Crabs are the fruit of the sea, and we wait for their harvest season to enjoy the delicious taste," said the 35-year-old.

"In the past, before the Israeli blockade, the Palestinians used to buy fish. But later when most of them have been suffering from poverty, they resorted to buying crabs as they have the same nutritional benefits."

Xinhua