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Libya
Fishing and Forestry
Although Libya possesses
nearly 1,800 kilometers of coastline and the second largest continental
shelf in the Mediterranean, its waters are not particularly rich
in the plankton needed to sustain highly productive fishing waters.
In 1977 Libya's fishing catch stood at 4,803 tons. By 1981 it
had risen to 6,418 tons--still one of the smaller national catches
in the Mediterranean. Most of Libya's fishing fleet was located
on the western half of its coastline, especially around Tripoli,
because the country's eastern and central coasts possessed less
attractive fishing grounds. Estimates in 1979 put the number of
fishing boats at 325, of which 13 were trawlers; the rest were
small and medium-sized boats. Approximately 1,000 to 1,200 people
were thought to be professional fishermen in 1981. The government
has been encouraging fishing activities and attempting to stimulate
a demand for fish. In 1986 a new fishing port was under construction
at Zuwarah, and numerous ice plants have been built at several
coastal sites. Agreements for joint development of fishing have
been signed with several countries, including Tunisia and Spain.
Sponge fishing has been monopolized by Greek fishermen who have
been licensed by the Libyan government. A tiny percentage of the
harvest has been obtained by Libyans using small boats and skindiving
equipment from the shallow waters inshore. The Greeks have used
modern equipment to exploit the deepwater beds where the best
sponges lie. In an experiment begun in 1977, the government has
established freshwater fish farms in several inshore locations.
For commercial purposes, the country has no forests. Although
the government designated more than 62,400 hectares as woodland
or forest, of this land is covered with scrub and minor vegetation.
During the 1960s, the government actively pursued an afforestation
program; these activities were accelerated in the 1970s. An estimated
213 million seedlings had been planted by 1977, about 33 million
of which were fruit trees. Most of the reforestation has been
in western Libya. During reforestation efforts, scientist have
experimented with a petrochemical spray that is sufficiently porous
to allow the occasional rain to trickle and seep through, yet
sturdy enough to prevent the seedling from being blown away during
one of the country's frequent and severe sandstorms. The government's
long-term goals for the massive planting program include the growth
of enough trees to meet its domestic lumber needs, which in the
past had been met by imports. Short-term goals include soil conservation
and reclamation, and the creation of windbreaks for crops and
settlements.
Data as of 1987
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