Activists from the Greenpeace environmental advocacy group on Tuesday proposed a draft decree to Environment Minister Dr. Antoine Karam that would establish Lebanon”s first coastal marine reserve near Byblos. Oceans campaigner Yasmine El Helwe and executive director Uygar Ozesmi, both of Greenpeace Mediterranean, along with Byblos Mayor Joseph Shami, presented the draft decree to Karam at his office in Beirut.
"The declaration of this reserve will be the stepping stone toward the protection of the sea of Lebanon, [which] will be fulfilled with the creation of an effective network of coastal marine reserves," Helweh told Karam, according to a statement issued by Greenpeace.
Helwe told The Daily Star that Karam promised to do his best to see the marine reserve established before his tenure as environment minister ends.
"We feel the urgency of protecting coasts against threats," Helwe said, adding that marine reserves are the main tool in doing so.
Under the proposal, the reserve would begin just north of the Byblos port and end before Amchit, roughly a kilometer further up the coast. The reserve would include the coastline and extend about 500 meters offshore. Within the reserve, construction on the coast and fishing and dumping in the sea would be prohibited.
According to Greenpeace, the reserve would serve as a "fish nursery," protecting spawning grounds for fish. This would benefit local fishermen by increasing their catch outside of the reserve area, she added. Both Helwe and Ozesmi emphasized that local fishermen strongly support establishing the reserve.
Greenpeace said the marine reserve, if established, could serve as a model for other reserves the group hopes will be created in Lebanon and around the Mediterranean. Greenpeace”s goal, Ozesmi said, is to eventually have 40 percent of the Mediterranean Sea covered by coastal or high-seas (offshore) reserves.
Greenpeace had already presented its proposal to Interior Minister Ziyad Baroud and Agriculture Minister Elias Skaff, both of whom were supportive, the group said.
For the marine reserve to be established, it must first have the approval of the Cabinet members whose ministries (environment, interior, agriculture and transportation) would be involved in enforcing regulations regarding the reserve, Helwe said. Then Karam would need to present the proposal to the government, after which it would need to be approved by President Michel Sleiman and Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.
Greenpeace began working for a marine reserve in Lebanon in the fall of 2007, Helwe said. The group visited the main coastal cities in Lebanon and talked with local population about the marine reserve project and its potential benefits.
Greenpeace decided to work to establish a reserve near Byblos because the group received a strong positive reaction from the local fishermen and from the Byblos Municipality. Also, a survey of the sea in the area found it to be rich in biodiversity, Ozesmi said.
If the reserve is established, Greenpeace proposes that it be overseen by a committee headed by a marine or environmental scientist. The committee would also include representatives from environmental NGOs, the municipality and local fishermen, Helwe said.
Costs for the reserve, according to Helwe, would be minimal. Fishermen support the initiative, and would voluntarily not fish in the area, she said. Regular marine police patrols along with reports of dumping violations by the head of the port could curb dumping, she added.