Beirut, 3 July 2026: Beirut, Lebanon – The Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Lebanon, organized a technical workshop on the environmentally sound management of marine litter and discarded fishing nets under the “Promoting Sustainable Fisheries Resources Management and Climate Resilience in Lebanon” project, funded by the Government of Norway.
Implemented jointly by the Ministry of Agriculture and FAO, the project aims to strengthen the resilience of Lebanon’s fisheries value chain and contribute to improved national food security through sustainable fisheries management and enhanced climate resilience.
The workshop brought together representatives from fishing communities, local authorities, the private sector, NGOs and other key stakeholders to discuss best practices for the environmentally responsible collection and disposal of marine litter and discarded fishing nets in line with good fishing practices.
Discussions highlighted the importance of preventing illegal fishing and reducing ghost fishing, while promoting stronger collaboration among coastal communities, municipalities and private sector actors to safeguard marine ecosystems and ensure the sustainable management of fisheries resources.
As part of the workshop, participants also viewed a bench and a table manufactured from recycled discarded fishing nets and plastic litter, demonstrating how marine waste can be transformed into useful products through circular economy approaches. The bench was produced under the Norway-funded project as an example of innovative and sustainable solutions that help reduce marine pollution.
In addition, participants witnessed the installation of a dedicated collection bin for used and discarded fishing nets and marine plastic litter, as part of an appropriate sustainable disposal of marine litter process.
“Discarded fishing nets are a major source of marine litter in Lebanon, harming marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of coastal communities,” said Etienne Careme, FAO Lebanon Resilience and Liaison Officer. “Through this Norway-funded initiative, we are working with our partners to promote responsible fishing practices and improve the sustainable management of fishing gear to protect our seas and strengthen the resilience of the fisheries sector.”
About the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO’s goal is to achieve food security for all and ensure people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 members, 194 countries and the European Union, FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.
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