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Successes

Preventing the establishment of a resort on Betzet Beach:

After a decade-long campaign in collaboration with residents, the Appeals Sub-Committee of the National Planning and Building Council decided to completely reject the construction plan on Betzet Beach, north of Nahariya. The area that was earmarked for construction was converted to a protected area; thus, our persistent campaign culminated in a resounding success.

Preventing the passage of ammonia tankers through the Gulf of Eilat:

Following a public campaign that we led this year in partnership with the Eilat Municipality, which included sending thousands of letters to the then-Minister for Environmental Protection, Ze’ev Elkin, the Ministry for Environmental Protection toughened its stance towards the initiative, and Haifa Chemicals decided to waive its plans to pass ammonia tankers through the Eilat Port, a move that would have endangered the coral reefs in the Gulf.

New marine protected area established

The newly announced Rosh HaNikra Nature Reserve last year added another 1% to the total protected area of Israel’s territorial waters. Furthermore, planning authorities approved the Rosh Carmel Marine Reserve, and we are awaiting an official announcement from the Minister of the Interior. Recently, objections that were submitted against the Avtach Marine Reserve in the Nitzanim area were rejected, thus paving the way for its approval and subsequent declaration. Despite the progress during the last year, we are still far from our set goals for protected marine areas (our target is that 20% of the Mediterranean Sea area will be protected within nature reserves).

SeaWatch:

 the marine civil guard: In 2020, another 1,300 people downloaded the app. It was used to submit 310 reports, including 265 in the Mediterranean Sea and 45 in the Red Sea. These reports led to dozens of enforcement incidents related to illegal fishing and to the removal of eight ghost nets from the sea.

Reexamination of grouper protection:

After the previous Minister for Environmental Protection, Ze’ev Elkin, avoided deciding on the subject, the current Minister for Environmental Protection, Gila Gamliel, is due to classify two grouper species – the dusky grouper and the golden grouper – as protected species. We are leading a focused campaign on this issue based on the assumption that the extinction of the grouper is liable to endanger the marine ecosystem in the Mediterranean Sea.

The deep sea:

We submitted an appeal to the High Court of Justice against the decision to perform gas and oil drilling near the ‘Palmachim disturbance’, a valuable and vulnerable area that is also used as a breeding site by tuna, and contains coral gardens and methane springs. We hope that the appeal will be discussed soon and that the Supreme Court judges will prevent the drillings. Our aim is for this important area to be declared a nature reserve.

Challenges
Marinas:

An issue that we’ve been engaged in since the 1990s continued to take up our attention. Planning institutions are promoting the establishment of six new marinas, which threatens the public beaches for the benefit of a few. We have formulated an alternative that will allow marine sports and education to prosper without damaging the beaches. In collaboration with Green Course, we have also established a broad coalition that campaigns for the beaches to remain open to all.

Marine reserves:

Our aim is to help make the Rosh Carmel Marine Reserve and Avtach Marine Reserve declared reserves. Likewise, we will continue campaigning to secure the Neve Yam and Poleg reserves, and the unique deep-sea reserve, the Palmachim disturbance.

Protection of groupers: We wish to see the completion of the motion to protect them and include them in the list of protected species in Israel.

Completion of the fishing reform (removal of trawl nets):

We continue promoting fishing reform that would involve three modes of action: first, reducing fishing activities; second, promoting knowledge-based decision making; and third, establishing an economic safety net for active beach fishermen.

Protection of Economic Waters:

We strive to strengthen the protection of economic waters over which Israeli Law applies only in part, mainly over areas with high environmental sensitivity, notably the Palmachim disturbance. Our aim is to promote a “Maritime Zones” law that will regulate Israel’s developmental activity in its economic waters, while considering natural and environmental assets.

Protection of the Gulf of Eilat:

In recent months we have witnessed development projects that threaten the health of the Gulf of Eilat. These projects include the expansion of the Europe Asia Pipeline Company’s (EAPC) activities to transport greater quantities of crude oil through the Port of Eilat, and the authorization of the installation of a gas pipeline from the country’s center to its south for the benefit of export and liquefaction. We are acting with a broad coalition of organizations to maintain Eilat’s status as a city that known for its unique natural assets.

Establishing a breeding season moratorium

The fishing ban period during breeding season stood at 31 days, and that of trawl fishing at 60 days, much less than what the Economics Committee determined as a ban period that would allow for the recovery of the fish catch.

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