Acharq al Awsat: Syrian navy tightens screws on Lebanese fishermen

Acharq al Awsat daily said that Lebanese fishermen have the most to fear from the maritime borders between Lebanon and Syria. The daily reported that this fear is mounting days after a number of fishermen were abducted, imprisoned and had their boats sunk by the Syrian navy.

The newspaper quoted some Lebanese fishermen as saying that every time Syria suffers from political turmoil or security trouble, the Syrian authorities commit such violations under the pretext that the borders are not delineated.   

Acharq al Awsat added that at the beginning of the Syrian crisis, and when security events grew more serious, Lebanese fishermen were banned from proceeding with their activities near the southern city of Al Arida.

The newspaper reported that the Syrian navy sunk every boat that had drifted into Syrian waters due to high winds. The newspaper stressed that when the Syrian destroyer began patrolling the area, the fishermen knew it would deal a devastating blow to their livelihood and would make it harder for them to make ends meet. 

According to the daily, a group of Syrian coastguards chased after Lebanese fishermen in regional waters while protecting Syrian boats that throw their fishing nets in Lebanese waters.