TYRE, Lebanon — The recent ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah has rekindled a sense of normalcy for many residents in southern Lebanon, particularly for the fishermen who have traditionally set out at dawn in their wooden boats to fish the Mediterranean Sea.
For the past two months of intense conflict, Israel’s blockade of southern Lebanon kept numerous fishermen confined to the shores of this historic Phoenician port, disrupting their livelihoods and significantly affecting the local fishing industry.
While the devastation and displacement have been the primary focus of the ongoing war, the blockade has also hindered access to essential components for making traditional Lebanese dishes like sayadiyeh, which consists of fish and rice simmered in fish sauce, along with fried or grilled fish served with dips such as hummus and tabbouleh or fattoush salads.
This disruption to fishing has impacted the community’s connection to home, but the opportunity for local fishing to resume along Lebanon’s southern coast is breathing new life into hopes for a better future.
On Friday, a handful of boats ventured out close to the shoreline, as fishermen in the port busied themselves mending the nets of their small vessels, which were painted in vibrant colors of white, blue, and red.
Hussein Sukmani, aged 55, shared that he was contemplating going out to sea in the upcoming days but was assessing the situation first. He refrained from sailing since the conflict escalated on September 23. “Those were days filled with dread and terror,” he recounted. “They were the hardest days of our lives.”
Just a week prior, a drone strike tragically took the lives of two young fishermen as they prepared their gear, leading many fishermen to be warned by the Lebanese army that venturing out would be at their own peril.
Among those who dared to fish on Friday was Walid Darwish, who returned to the port with two plastic containers full of mullet. “Today marks our first trip back out,” Darwish stated, lamenting the missed fishing opportunities during the prime months of October and November. “We lost it,” he added sorrowfully.
Since October, the Israeli military has prohibited vessels from approaching within a 50-kilometer radius of the border but has yet to clarify whether this warning remains active.
According to Sukmani, most of the approximately 700 fishermen operating from the 270 boats at the port have refrained from sailing due to safety concerns stemming from this tension.
The neighborhood surrounding the port is predominantly Christian and has largely been spared from the airstrikes that have devastated other areas of Tyre, where multiple buildings have been destroyed.
In normal times, the port attracts tourists, both local and international, who visit for the stunning views, dining experiences, and sandy beaches.
On Friday, Mohammed Hammoud strolled along the coastline of Tyre, clutching his fishing rod. “It’s sufficient for someone to stand in this lovely area,” he expressed, gesturing toward the sandy beaches. “Fishing means everything to me,” said Hammoud, who had found opportunities to fish in areas north of Sidon that were not affected by the blockade.
In the historic market of Tyre, Gilbert Spiridon watched from his shop as customers came to purchase the freshly caught fish. Previously, he noted that within hours, he would sell all his fish to shoppers traveling from various parts of Lebanon. “All I desire is for the war to have come to a close so we can return to the good old days,” Spiridon remarked wistfully.