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

His face spoke of helplessness and frustration as he wondered how he would provide for his family this month. His family’s livelihood depends on the small income he earns from selling the few fish he catches.

The challenges faced by the fishermen are not limited to weather fluctuations affecting their catches. Illegal fishing boats, known as “kys” trawlers, also operate in coastal areas. These damage the marine environment and deprive other fishermen of good catches when they go out to 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.

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

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.”

Illegal Fishing

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.
“Kys” Trawling: A Threat to “Seagrass Meadows”

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.

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.

Significant Damage

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.

An Uncertain Future

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.”

2026-02-05 | Non classé | English |