Transformation of Fishing Grounds into Ecological and Tourist Systems

For the first time, the fishing grounds will be transformed into an ecological and tourist system. As part of the project, some of the fish pond areas will be transformed into habitats for a wide range of biological diversity, and tourist centres will be established nearby. The Ministry of Agriculture will invest approximately NIS 4 million in 2024 in the new model.

The Fisheries Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and the South Jordan Drainage Authority have begun a project funded by the Open Spaces Fund of the Ministry of Agriculture to adapt fishing areas to maximize the environmental benefits they produce.

Ecological ponds will be built near the fish ponds, so that they will serve as habitats for a wide biological diversity of animals, and will improve the quality of the water in the fish ponds. At the same time, tourist attractions will be built around the ecological ponds to serve the general public and encourage rural tourism.

The goal of the project is to assist in raising fish in ponds, while promoting the environmental benefits of the industry, as well as developing rural tourism. As part of the effort, the ministry carried out an initial pilot project that was crowned a success and included the establishment of ecological ponds in the areas of the fish ponds of Ein Hanatziv and Ma’ale Gilboa.

In light of its success, the ministry is promoting the model for additional ponds to implement the method in all ponds in Israel. In the next stage, ecological ponds will be established in the villages of Ruppin and Beit Hashita in Emek HaMa’ayon. The total investment in the project will be approximately NIS 4 million during 2024.

In recent decades, the intensifying climate crisis has led to the decline of wetlands in nature due to their drying out, especially in the arid climate that exists in most parts of Israel. As a result, animals in wetlands have lost their natural habitats, and some, such as the otter, are in danger of extinction.

At the same time, fishing areas are shrinking for the same reason, so that the number of fish living in fish ponds is decreasing. For this reason, mechanisms will be established in the ecological ponds that will store the water of the fish ponds during the non-rainy period, and release it moderately during the rainy period.

In this way, the amount of water in the ponds will be maintained, and naturally, additional animals, including animals that are in danger of extinction in Israel, will make the ponds their living areas. Along with improving biodiversity, and even contributing to carbon fixation in the soil.

The establishment of unfertilized ecological cells in the heart of the agricultural landscape in Madaga represents a groundbreaking integration of environmental systems and agriculture.

By embedding these ecological zones directly within the agricultural landscape, they become an integral part of the Madaga itself. This approach ensures that the ecological cells are not only adjacent but form intertwined and harmonious components of the agricultural sector.

All this and more, these projects are intended to create rural tourism centres near the fish ponds, as part of making rural areas accessible to the public. Near the fish ponds, recreational and hiking areas will be established, including walking trails, bike paths and lookouts, so that they will bring additional income to the local residents.

Based on the press release of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. Selected as relevant/shortened/translated/regrouped by VonNaftali. Pic AI-generated. Emblematic.