The Blue Half 

 The Mediterranean sea covers Half of the Israeli area (4,000 sq. kilometers of territorial waters, and 22,000 sq. kilometers of EEZ), and is the largest natural area in the country. Marine ecosystems provide vital services for Israel's residents: Oxygen for breathing,  novel medicines, protein, eco-tourism and education.

A healthy marine environment helps to mitigate and manage risks like coastal erosion, jellyfish outbreaks and the spread of noxious invasive species.

Israeli Mediterranean sea is home to unique ecosystems: sponge meso-photic gardens, deep water corals, cold seeps, rocky reefs and deep canyons. It is a hotspot for apex predators: Dolphins, sharks, rays, and a spawning ground for Atlantic Blue-Fin Tuna.

Aggressive and unregulated fishing, and the development of coastal and marine infrastructures without sufficient environmental considerations, have caused the deterioration of the marine ecosystems. Climate change and the invasion of organisms via the Suez canal is another challenge that pressures even more the marine environment.

Only 4% of the territorial waters are designated as marine reserves, and the EEZ lacks any environmental legislation (and thus has zero marine reserves or fisheries management).

The Blue Half is promoting a comprehensive environmental reform to protect the marine environment in the Israeli Mediterranean sea:

1. Marine nature reserves – 30% of the territorial waters, and 30% of the EEZ to be designated as no-take marine reserves, in collaboration with the INPA. We strive to protect all unique habitats (VME's) and adequate representation for other habitats in a well-connected reserve network.

2. Fisheries Management – Sustainable fisheries through regulation (where, when, how and how much to fish), enforcement and the ban on destructive fishing practices like bottom trawling.

3. Marine spatial planning – Mainstreaming ecological considerations within development activities like oil and gas infrastructures, aquaculture and coastal development, mainly by influencing Israel's national MSP.

4. Endangered species protection – we promote the declaration as "protected species" on a few endangered fish, like the Dusky Grouper – a keystone species that regulates the health of rocky reefs.

5. Public participation in marine conservation – We operate the "Sea Watch" app and data service: A unique initiative that enables every person to report on marine hazards and fishing violation, online, directly to the enforcement authorities.

1.Marine nature reserves – our activity was instrumental in designating the "Achziv–Rosh Hanikra", "Rosh-Carmel" and "Palmahim slide/disturbance" marine reserves as No-take reserves.

We worked closely with the planning administration, to establish a national policy of no-fishing in marine reserves.

2.Fisheries Management – After an intensive 4 years campaign, including a few appeals to the High court of justice, the parliament have adopted (2016) the amendment to the fishing regulations we have compiled. The new regulations have established, for the first time, a fishing moratorium in the breeding and recruitment seasons, a ban on spearfishing while scuba diving, a bottom trawling closure on 40% of the territorial waters, and a bag limit on sport fisherman. Restrictions to increase fishing gear selectivity were also set.

We have also pushed for the allocation of enforcement responsibility, from the ministry of agriculture to the nature and parks authority, and to the establishment of a novel marine enforcement unit responsible for fishing regulations (2018).

3.Marine spatial planning – we have lobbied extensively for the mainstreaming of ecological considerations in the Israeli MSP plan, that was approved in 2019.

4.Endangered species protection – We have appealed to the High court of justice for the protection on 5 grouper species and the Bluefin Tuna. The Goldblotch grouper was declared as protected on April 21, and the Dusky grouper was only partially and temporarily declared protected. We will pursue further protection for more species in the near future.

5. Public participation in marine conservation – almost 10,000 people have already downloaded the Sea Watch application. The numerous public reports have enabled (through strong collaboration with government enforcement bodies) dozens of successful Illegal fishing enforcement events, dozens of ghost nets removals, and a few exiting sea turtle rescues.

Contact person – Alon Rothschild, alon@spni.org.il  

SPNI is promoting the establishment of Marine Nature Reserves, as No-Take zone MPA's, To reach the target of 30% protection in the Mediterranean sea.

Dive into the sea, and watch the short videos we have produced in order to make this ambition a reality.

In July 2022, The Palmahim Slide was recognized as a Hope Spot by the international organization Mission Blue led by Dr. Sylvie Earle. For more information click here

Israeli Mediterranean fisheries hold substantial public benefits, despite its minor contribution to annual fish consumption. It provides protein-rich and locally produced food, a source of livelihood for approximately 1,000 commercial fishermen and a source for outdoor recreation for some 70,000 sport fishermen.