Minister of Social Solidarity Nevine el Kabbag in cooperation with "Tahia Misr Fund" and the General Authority for Fish Resources Development launched the first phase of the presidential initiative "Barr Aman" or "Safe Shore" to support fishermen as it targets to cover almost 50,000 fishermen’s needs to be implemented in four phases.
The initiative provides fishermen with fishing equipment such as nets and safety tools and gear and will be helped with rehabilitating their damaged boats.
However, according to the Head of the Fishermen syndicate, Ahmed Nasary, “we did not want boats or clothes, our requirements are mainly financial aid.” The minister of Social Solidarity contacted them to send the ministry a proposal of what kind of support they seek.
Nasary clarified that they hoped to have a fund where the initiative’s budget would be added to, and this fund would support the fishermen financially for the whole year, where they would have a stable source of income to rely on in any possible crisis.
“We need this to support fishermen in health, social and living conditions as well,” added Nasary. “Some of us request apartments or jobs or healthcare or a stable yearly source of income, it depends on each fisherman’s needs.”
Alexandrian fisherman, Mo’men Abdallah, 28, said that supporting fishermen is an excellent idea and will guarantee their rights, but they have other demands, especially in Alexandria. “We want the ports to reopen, like Dakahlia and Alexandria ports, even if we pay double the previous fees, as they are among the most important ports.” Abdallah added that the shutting down of these ports caused many people to lose their jobs and therefore their homes.
Moreover, Alexandrian fisherman, Mohamed Nassar, 34, added that he wants all ports to reopen for fishing as there are cafés and the Salah Al-Din citadel which took the most important part of the sea for fishing, and for official monitoring over the fishermen, because many of them destroy the fish resources.