Yom Kippur Fishing Bust: Illegal Methods Off Israeli Coast

Marine unit teams from the Nature and Parks Authority, together with officers from the Israel Police maritime patrol in Haifa, were forced to conduct a sea patrol during Yom Kippur following indications that some would exploit the holy day to carry out illegal fishing.

The concern proved justified. Off the coast of Shavei Tzion, authorities located two suspects engaged in fishing using a spear gun combined with an air compressor, in violation of the law.

The suspects weren't content with using prohibited fishing methods alone. In their possession were species forbidden for fishing, including an Alexandrian spearfish, and they were fishing without the required licenses. Additionally, they were diving without a diver's flag, posing a real danger to themselves and to other vessels and divers in the area.

Guy Levian, deputy director of the Marine Unit at the Nature and Parks Authority, stated: "The suspects exploited the cover of the fast day to commit a series of fishing violations. Not only did they fish using prohibited methods, they caught species that are forbidden to fish and dove without a diver's flag in a manner that poses a real danger to them and to other vessels and divers in their vicinity."

For the violations, the maritime patrol issued the suspects a citation totaling 3,200 shekels, alongside opening an investigation file on suspicion of fishing using prohibited methods and harming protected natural resources. Levian thanked the Haifa maritime patrol for their joint work even on fast days, to ensure the maritime space remains safe.

Chief Inspector Ran Vered, commander of the maritime patrol unit in Haifa, clarified: "The maritime patrol of the Israel Police operates 24/7, including on holidays and fast days, with the goal of protecting public safety, public order and the law in the maritime space. Any attempt to exploit these days to commit offenses at sea, while endangering human life and harming the marine environment, will be met with a determined response."

Guy Rubinstein, director of the Fishing Division at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, noted: "Fishing laws are designed to preserve the fishing resource and the ecological system, and to enable the continuation of professional and recreational fishing activity over time. Effective enforcement is vital for protecting the marine environment and ensuring equal rules for all those engaged in fishing."

The Nature and Parks Authority notes that aside from this serious incident, several additional cases of illegal fishing were identified during Yom Kippur. As part of these, Nature and Parks Authority teams opened approximately seven investigation files for violations including harming protected natural resources, fishing using prohibited methods such as fishing with a drone without a license or with a cast net without a license, as well as fishing in a nature reserve.

Furthermore, the teams identified several additional behavioral violations on the country's beaches, in the form of prohibited driving on beaches for which 14 citations were issued, and illegal camping in a coastal nature reserve area for which two warnings were issued. The Nature and Parks Authority will continue to work together with the Israel Police to protect Israel's marine and coastal environment.