Health Ministry Urges Fishing Ban Amid Algae Bloom Concerns

Israel's Ministry of Health is recommending a temporary ban on fishing in the Mediterranean Sea near desalination plants due to uncertainty surrounding an algae bloom and the methods used to combat it. The ministry has informed the Ministry of Agriculture that the specific type of algae and the consequences of the sea treatment are not fully understood. Consequently, they advise a precautionary approach, prohibiting fishing in the affected area and a buffer zone until monitoring confirms that fish and other marine life are safe and pose no health risks.

This recommendation is a precautionary measure, not based on proven danger, aimed at safeguarding public health while information gaps persist. The Ministry of Health clarified that the ban applies to fishing, not to fish currently sold in markets, and that drinking water quality remains unaffected.

Separately, journalist Matan Hodorov reported for Channel 13 News that the Water Authority released a large quantity of toxic pesticides into the sea on Wednesday in an attempt to eradicate the algae causing desalination plant shutdowns. The mixture included three chemicals, with copper sulfate at a concentration 27 times the permitted level, posing significant health risks upon contact.

The substances were sprayed from a "Chimnir" company aircraft over a 9-kilometer stretch, as close as one kilometer from the shore opposite Ashkelon and a few kilometers from the Zikim beach. This experimental operation was conducted without prior notification to relevant ministries, including environmental protection, agriculture, and health. The Water Authority also failed to inform the public about the treatment.