The Be'er Sheva Magistrate's Court today approved a settlement agreement between the Ministry of Justice and the EPA, in which the company will pay the state NIS 250,000 following environmental and ecological damage to the coral reef in Eilat and damage to many corals and invertebrates in the reef.
The settlement agreement between the parties in court, follows a statement of claim filed by the state on behalf of the Nature and National Parks Authority.
The lawsuit states that during the maintenance work performed by Marina Divers on behalf of EPA at the northern pier of the Eilat Port in 2014, work done without any permit from the Nature and Parks Authority, 5 connecting posts were cut at anchorage points of tankers, which fell to the seabed. And caused severe damage to both the natural values that grew on the link poles and the tongue that is at the foot of those link posts, in which many corals were run over and broken.
The cutting of the pillars resulted in the emptying of the pillars from the large amount of sand and the many stones that were found inside them, which slid down and buried many corals under them.
In addition, one of the cut pillars also rolled down the reef to a distance of about 17 meters, breaking many corals along the way.
It is estimated that more than 2,600 corals were affected, including 665 corals that could have reached the age of 50, and a large number of coral-dependent animals, such as fish and other invertebrates.
The severe injury led to a lawsuit and a settlement agreement reached today.
The State Attorney's Office stated that "the coral reef in Eilat is the only coral reef in the State of Israel, and it is a particularly diverse ecosystem and home to many species of marine organisms. Endangered.
The state will continue to use all the tools at its disposal to return to the public what has been stolen from it, as well as to convey a message that the values of nature are not no man's land and that anyone who causes damage to the environment will bear the costs of negligent conduct.
Harm to nature also comes at a price. "
The Society for the Protection of Nature also responded to the court's decision, stating that the settlement agreement is another reminder of the destruction and great damage that the EPA causes to Israeli nature. "It will endanger and pose a real threat to the coral reef in the Gulf, the Mediterranean Sea and the open areas, in the Arava and the Negev."
It should be noted that EPA, Marina Divirs and the directors were additionally convicted in the criminal proceedings of committing a joint offense of violating protected natural values, the court imposed fines on them cumulatively in the amount of NIS 180,000 and their appeal to the district court was denied. , As part of a compromise agreement in the civil procedure, as compensation to the public for the purpose of restoring and preserving natural values.
The state was represented in the proceedings by Adv. Afnan Abu Taha of the Southern District Attorney's Office (Civil), with the assistance of the Civil Enforcement Unit at the State Attorney's Office and in cooperation with the Nature and Parks Authority.
Were we wrong?
Fixed!
If you found an error in the article, we'll be happy for you to share it with us