Hundreds of fishermen in Baltim blocked the highway and paralyzed traffic Wednesday, demanding authorities crack down on armed men preventing access to Borolos Lake in Kafr al-Sheikh Governorate.
Police were unable to disband the protesters and eventually withdrew.
Wanting the lake's resources for themselves, armed men with speed boats shoot at the fishermen to keep them away from the lake, the fishermen allege.
Zarea al-Betany, head of a fishermen's organization in Baltim, said the provincial governor had already banned speed boats from fishing the lake and issued an order to confiscate them. However, the decision has not been implemented and the violations are still occurring, endangering fishermen, Betany said.
Fishermen were protesting to send a message about the seriousness of the matter and would only allow the road to reopen when they have a solution to the problem, he said.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
