Baalbek: The Ministry of Agriculture announced in a statement that after receiving a complaint about the sale of dead fish in markets from farms along the Assi River in the Hermel region, it acted promptly. The Ministry, via its Baalbek-Hermel Agriculture unit, dispatched specialized teams to perform a thorough field survey of all fish farms in the vicinity.

According to National News Agency – Lebanon, during the inspections, the teams verified the health status of the fish and the farms. They also engaged directly with farm owners to communicate the necessary health measures needed to address the issue. Stakeholders were required to sign written pledges to strictly follow health conditions and standards.

Simultaneously, the Agriculture Ministry has referred the matter to other relevant agencies to ensure proper follow-up and prosecution of any violators. The Ministry emphasized that ongoing and intensive monitoring is crucial due to the risks posed to food safety and public health, as well as to safeguard the reputation of Lebanese produce in both local and international markets.