Galilee Fishermen Suspected of Using Poison for Easy Catch
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JERUSALEM — Thousands of dead fish were found floating in the Jordan River, possibly poisoned by fishermen on the Sea of Galilee looking for an easy catch, an official said Friday.
“We suspect large-scale poisoning using agricultural pesticides,” said Elad Zohar, an Israeli area supervisor.
Zohar said the pesticides apparently were dumped in the Sea of Galilee and killed more fish than the fishermen could catch. Thousands of the poisoned fish then floated from the fresh water lake into the narrow, winding Jordan River, he said.
“The damage caused by the poisoning is very great,” Zohar said. “For every fish caught, three others are rotting and washing ashore.”
In addition, those caught still carry the poison in their systems. Israel Radio broadcast a warning, saying fresh water fish should not be eaten.
Zohar blamed the poisoning on “marginal elements” among the Sea of Galilee’s 180 commercial fishermen.
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