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The Life of a Yemeni Fisher Al Jisr Collective

This photo essay was produced by Mimi, Vika Estimee Nimenya and Al Jisr Collective

Idris Muhammad Awad from Aden, Yemen, has been fishing for a living since he was 18 years old, and he is still fishing to feed his family at age 60.

Awad, a father of five, begins his day at 4 in the morning with a prayer before assembling his fishing gear and setting out with his boat, "Prince," to distances from shore of up to 30 miles (50 kilometers).

Awad spends cold days and nights fishing. To make navigating the sea easier for the catch, he uses a device that helps him identify the best fishing spots.

Unlike many others who are fishers in Yemen, Awad said he does not use fishnets since they are hazardous to the fish. Fishers in Yemen typically toss the nets into the water in the morning and leave them there until evening. During this period, some fish get caught in these nets and die, then rot. Other fish die when they approach the net and smell the rotting fish.

A native of Al-Khawkhah, Al-Mokha, Awad moved to Aden because of the Gulf War that began in 1990, and he has been living there ever since. He lives in Sirah, a small community in the city of Aden, where many live to be closer to the coast to fish. Since fishing alone is not a consistent source of income, Awad said he does boat engine repairs when he’s not fishing out at sea.

The fish sector is the second largest sector exporting from Yemen after oil and gas, according to a report done by the Yemeni Ministry of Fish Wealth. This sector employs - directly and indirectly - nearly half a million Yemenis. Fishers risk their lives every day while out at sea.

Awad experienced a life-threatening accident when his boat sank and he was stranded at sea for three consecutive days without food or water.

With all the dangers that come with fishing, Awad still finds joy in this profession.

When spending days and nights out at sea and watching the waves crash, Awad says his happiest moments are when he catches the “Dirk,” one of the most expensive fish in Yemen.

Al Jisr – The Bridge – is a collaboration among students and faculty from four public universities in Yemen and faculty and students at The University of Arizona. Students from University of Aden, Hadramout University, Taiz University, University of Saba Region and the UA are participating in this nine-month cultural exchange project that includes talking about media practices in Yemen and the U.S. Some student work is presented under the Al Jisr Collective name for the security and safety of those contributors.