Climate Change Deepens the Struggles of Tunisia’s Fishermen, as “Kys” Trawlers Boats Steal Their Livelihoods

In the autumn of 2020, ten Tunisian fishermen set off on a fishing trip, hoping to catch enough fish to feed their families. Little did they know that this would be the last trip for many of them.

By dawn, a big storm had hit their boat, causing it to sink 20 miles away from a port. Only three of the fishermen were rescued and survived, while the remaining seven were lost at sea.

This wasn't the only fishing boat to sink in Tunisian waters due to changing weather conditions. Mediterranean temperatures are rising at an unprecedented rate. Marine heatwaves intensify phenomena like Mediterranean cyclones by raising sea surface temperatures that fuel these storms.

In 2023, Hurricane Daniel -the most violent hurricane ever recorded in the Mediterranean- hit the coasts of Libya and Greece. Libya was hit hardest, with around 6,000 fatalities and tens of thousands of people displaced.

The Mediterranean basin is one of the most prominent “hot spots” in terms of climate change. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the Mediterranean region is particularly vulnerable to the effects of global warming, especially prolonged and intense heat waves, increased drought in an already dry climate, and the risk of coastal flooding.

The mortality rate in the fishing sector is higher than in other sectors. Bad weather, which lasts 100 days a year, threatens work, particularly in northern Tunisia, negatively affecting the fishing season, according to a study conducted by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

Depletion of Marine Stocks

At a workshop for repairing and maintaining fishing boats in Taparura, located near the port of Sidi Mansour in Sfax, we met a fisherman known locally as “Am Ali”- “Uncle Ali”- who took up fishing more than six decades ago.

“Am Ali”, who gave up fishing when he got too old, remembers how unpredictable the sea can be. “When the sea is rough, sailors can't make a living, and they can't afford to buy the essentials for their kids,” he says.

It is not only weather changes that affect the livelihoods of fishermen. According to a report by the Environmental Justice Foundation published in 2023, the population's ability to adapt to climate change has been affected by what is known as trawling, which releases significant amounts of carbon from the seafloor to the surface. This can potentially increase water acidity, drive coastal erosion, reduce water quality, and rob fishermen of their irreplaceable “livelihoods.”

Najib Bin Hassan, 34, started fishing while still at school. It is a profession that he inherited from his father and his grandfather, and he has continued working in it after he quit school.

Najib explains why certain species of fish are currently disappearing. “Many of the species that we used to catch may have migrated due to the disappearance of suitable feeding or spawning grounds,” he says.

He confirms that they used to catch different types of fish depending on the season. For instance, they would catch white fish in summer, mullet, cuttlefish, sea bass and sea bream in autumn, and octopus in spring.

Illegal Fishing

Over the past decade, “kys” trawlers have become widespread, operating in shallow waters close to the shore. This new method of fishing has attracted new fishermen because it generates “higher profits.”

Najib says that bottom trawlers became more prevalent after 2011, due to the decline in yields from traditional fishing methods. This prompted him to start working on a bottom trawl and give up net fishing, locally known as “gillnet fishing.”

Bottom trawlers scrape the seabed and capture all kinds of fish. They also damage traditional fishing equipment by tearing nets, contributing to the decline in artisanal fishing yields.

The number of “kys” trawlers has increased significantly in recent years. For example, the Sfax region saw a 38.5 percent increase in the number of these boats in 2022 compared to 2018.

The process of “kys” or “bag fishing” is named as such because ships use bag-shaped trawl nets to fish. This technique involves using heavy drag nets (equipped with metal gear, often with rakes or teeth) that scrape the seabed. It is the most non-selective and destructive fishing technique.

FishAct, a non-profit organisation dedicated to marine conservation, says that there are legal loopholes and flaws in the Tunisian fishing regulation (Law N°94-13, issued on 31 January 1994) that facilitate “Kys” trawling and the trade with fish caught by them, as well as hinder enforcement efforts. The charity notes the Ministerial Order lacks precision, failing to specify required gear for “Kys” trawling operations and hindering enforcement.

Similarly, Article 27 (5) of the 1995 Order also prohibits the use of bottom trawl gear in depths of less than 50 meters in the Gulf of Gabès, subject to a special dispensation for shrimp fishing during defined periods. At the regional level, the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) prohibits bottom trawling between the coast and the 200-meter isobath in the Gulf of Gabès in the month of July until the end of September each year, to allow marine species and ecosystems to recover.

According to environmental expert Hamdi Hachad, the Gulf of Gabès is home to one of the world’s largest Posidonia oceanica habitats. These seagrass meadows act as nurseries for fish and most marine species, and are a biodiversity hotspot.

Hachad explains that the presence of these seagrasses is accompanied by many other living organisms. . P.oceanica releases oxygen into the sea. One cubic meter of this seagrass produces approximately 12 litres of oxygen.

The Gulf of Gabès is located in the east of the country, within Tunisian territorial waters. The island of Djerba lies to its southeast, while the island of Kerkennah lies to its northeast. The gulf is home to the third largest fleet of fishing vessels operating in the Mediterranean Sea.

The Gulf of Gabès constitutes a unique marine habitat as it contains the largest seagrass meadows in the Mediterranean. Scientifically known as Posidonia oceanica. These meadows are home to more than 650 marine species and many migratory species, some of which are listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The monetary value per hectare of Posidonia meadows far exceeds that of the Amazon rainforest and coral reefs. Their importance is not limited to preserving biodiversity; they are also characterized by high carbon absorption rates and offer protection against coastal retreat.

Although seagrass has resisted extreme climatic factors for millions of years, it currently faces significant threats.

Trawler boats threaten the life of Posidonia, which is protected under the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean Sea (Barcelona Convention). Several species of fish depend on these green underwater meadows as areas for feeding, breeding, spawning and hiding their young, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature.

Tunisia has 14,000 licensed fishing boats. According to Ali Cheikh Sboui, Director General of the Directorate General of Fisheries and Aquaculture (DGPA) at the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries, artisanal fishing boats make up 92 percent of the fleet and are concentrated in coastal governorates including Sfax, Gabès, Medenine, Mahdia, Monastir, Nabeul, Tunis, and Bizerte.

In 2024, Tunisia produced 138,000 tonnes of fish, of which over 37,000 tonnes were exported, generating 845 million Tunisian dinars. According to Sboui, the fish farming sector accounted for around 200 million Tunisian dinars of this total.

Significant Damage

Sboui notes that 2,300 violations were recorded in the marine fisheries sector in 2024, compared to 1,300 in 2022. He believes this indicates a significant effort in the monitoring of fishing activities.

Sboui argues that “Kys” fishing causes three levels of damage. Firstly, it depletes fish stocks and harms the marine ecosystem, causing marine desertification. Secondly, it damages people's property and destroys the artisanal fishing equipment of traditional fishermen. This has led to a reluctance among young people to equip their boats and work in this field.

Thirdly, and most importantly, “Kys” fishing damages Tunisia's international reputation for sustainable fishing, which was once strong according to the DGPA Director General. The European Union, Tunisia's primary partner, has issued warnings about “Kys” fishing and indiscriminate practices. This threatens exports and Tunisia's economic future, particularly in the fisheries sector—the country's second-largest source of foreign currency after olive oil.

Regarding the policy adopted to combat illegal fishing, Sboui stated that it involves maritime surveillance, which has resulted in the seizure of 100 boats and their subsequent removal from the sea between August 2023 and May 2025. In addition, marine products and fishing equipment offloaded from boats are monitored. Distribution channels are also monitored, whether in large commercial markets or specialised shops, and products without documentation are seized.

As for enforcement efforts, Sboui explained that 69 marine fishing guards were recruited and trained in 2018 and are now working in ports to combat illegal and indiscriminate fishing activities. However, Sboui acknowledges that the number of guards remains insufficient, with only 140 marine fisheries guards spread over 1,300 kilometers. This has prompted the Ministry to consider recruiting new inspectors.

Two 10-meter fast patrol boats were also acquired in 2019, but they are currently out of service pending the arrival of spare parts. Two 27-meter surveillance patrol boats were also acquired under a Tunisian-Japanese cooperation agreement, and they will soon be put into service, according to Sboui.

The DGPA General Director also noted that 2 million Tunisian dinars are allocated each year for the construction and installation of artificial piers in shallow areas where “Kys” fishing is practised. He said that this project, which is being carried out in partnership with Belgium, is around 55 percent complete.

Sboui confirmed that licences for boats designed for “Kys” fishing have been banned, and a size limit has been set for coastal fishing vessels to prevent them from being large enough to engage in illegal fishing activities. He explained that many 16-meter-long boats deceptively use coastal fishing licences and carry “Kys” fishing equipment. Boats longer than 15 meters have also been equipped with satellite tracking devices to monitor their routes and fishing locations.

He also referred to the measures that have been implemented to support artisanal fishermen, including fuel subsidies of 40 to 50 percent.

An Uncertain Future

Forty-three-year-old fisherman Moez Ammar owns a small boat. He has been unable to marry due to his difficult economic circumstances.

Sounding disheartened, he compares the current situation to that of over a decade ago and talks about the blessings that used to be found on the coast, alluding to the abundance of different types of fish.

Moez Ammar says: “Octopus was food for the poor. The octopus fishing season runs from November to March, and although the income was low, it was enough to buy the basics and nobody went hungry. Today, however, even those who are well off cannot afford it because of corruption, and illegal, indiscriminate “kys” fishing, which has left the sea barren."

Sarcastically, he continues, 'Nowadays, anyone who catches an octopus takes a photo of it as a souvenir.'

This report was produced with support from ARIJ