Coast Day brings together environment associations in Tunisia

There were 17 environment associations from all over Tunisia, celebrating Coast day in Gammarth, on 25 September, under the theme "A good climate for change". The celebration focused this year on Climate Change and Variability, and Integrated Coastal Zone Management and was organized within the framework of the Climate Change and Variability project under the MedPartnership.

The main aim of this forum of associations was to raise public awareness on key issues related to climate change and coastal zone management and to create synergies among NGOs to complement each other's work.

Representing the Tunisian Agence de Protection et d’Aménagement du Littoral (APAL),  co-organiser of the forum with the Priority Actions Programme/Regional Activity Centre (PAP/RAC) of the UNEP/MAP, Sabah highlighted that the interest towards the forum shown by the participating associations reflects its success and the need for such initiatives. « The most important thing is to create this synergy among the different associations active in the field of environment”, she stressed.

For a sustainable environment in Kerkennah Islands 

Aida Kashouri from the Tunisian "Jeunes Science Kerkennah" association endeavours to raise the awareness of the public, mainly the youth, on the importance of protecting the environment through producing and eating healthy food. Dressed in a Tunisian traditional costume, and standing proudly behind her dates and natural products, Aida explains to her visitors the importance of eating healthy and natural: “to heal your aphtae, this date syrup is the solution” she says to Antoine. "We encourage people to produce and eat natural. This contributes to protecting and sustaining our environment. It is for our future”, she adds.

Ozone protection and climate change go along

For the National Unit for the Ozone, that is under the Montreal protocol, the importance of this forum resides in the opportunity that it gives to network with other participating NGOs. Their role is indirectly linked to the climate change. “We help enterprises to stop using the Ozone Depleting Substances that cause global warming. We indirectly contribute to the mitigation of climate change”, said Sonia Moufarraj, an ecologist and member of the association.

Trap fishing with the Charfi in Kerkennah

Sitting on the floor, Naji Ezz el Din is fabricating the fish trap known in Kerkennah as Charfi. "My father taught me how to make it. He learned it from his father”, he said.

The Charfi are fixed and passive fisheries used specifically in the Kerkennah islands where bottoms are high and the tidal range is important. These are like vertical walls built with palm leaves sunk into the mud. They intercept fish and guide them to rooms ending in capture traps. "These are made of natural material without any threat to the environment” said Naji. “Using this fishing method preserves not only the environment but also the source of our daily bread”, he concluded.

Coast Day Celebration

Since 2007, it has become tradition to celebrate the Coast Day in the Mediterranean. Its main purpose is to raise awareness of the importance of the coast as natural and economic resource, as well as to warn against the risks it is exposed to, due to natural phenomena and human activities.

Every year the central Mediterranean celebration is organized in a country. In parallel to this, local and national events are organized in all countries. September 25 was chosen as the Mediterranean Coast Day after the date of when the first Mediterranean country, Slovenia ratified the ICZM Protocol.