The Sea of Galilee, also known as Lake Kinneret, is the largest freshwater body in Israel, located in the northern section of the Great Rift Valley. Its surface elevation is approximately 209 to 215 meters below sea level, making it the lowest freshwater lake on Earth. The lake is Israel’s primary natural water reservoir, sustaining both human life and a unique aquatic ecosystem. It is also a location of profound cultural and historical importance, supporting diverse and commercially productive fish populations.
The Iconic St. Peter’s Fish
The fish most famously associated with the lake is the one served to tourists as St. Peter’s Fish, primarily the Galilean tilapia (Sarotherodon galilaeus). This species belongs to a group locally known as musht, which also includes the blue tilapia (Oreochromis aureus) and the redbelly tilapia (Tilapia zillii). The Arabic name musht translates to “comb,” referencing the tilapia’s prominent dorsal fin. This fish holds cultural significance due to its connection to the biblical narrative of the Apostle Peter catching a fish with a coin. Sarotherodon galilaeus feeds on plankton and algae, and can grow up to 45 centimeters in length, reaching a weight of two kilograms.
Primary Native and Commercial Species Groups
Beyond the tilapias, the Kinneret’s fish fauna includes two other commercially prominent groups: the Barbels and the Kinneret Sardine. The Barbels, locally called biny, are bottom-feeding members of the carp family, represented by species such as Barbus longiceps and Carasobarbus canis. These fish are considerably larger than tilapia, reaching weights of up to seven kilograms, and are valued for their substantial flesh.
The most numerous fish in the lake is the Kinneret Sardine or Bleak (Mirogrex terraesanctae), which is endemic to the Sea of Galilee. This small, pelagic fish serves as a primary food source for larger predatory fish. Another native species, Tristramella simonis simonis, is part of the cichlid family. Its close relative, Tristramella sacra, has not been observed since the 1990s and is likely extinct due to habitat changes.
Unique Ecological Factors Sustaining the Fauna
The ability of the Sea of Galilee to support this diversity of life is linked to its specific physical and chemical characteristics. The lake is classified as a warm monomictic body of water, meaning its entire volume mixes once a year during the winter months. For roughly eight months, the lake is thermally stratified, separating into a warm, oxygen-rich upper layer (the epilimnion) and a colder, oxygen-poor lower layer (the hypolimnion).
During the winter turnover, the water layers mix completely, redistributing nutrients and oxygen. The lake is fed primarily by the Upper Jordan River, but it also receives water from surrounding springs, including some saline springs beneath the lakebed. The pressure from the overlying freshwater keeps the salinity in check, providing a stable environment for endemic species to thrive.
Fisheries Management and Conservation Efforts
Maintaining the balance of the lake’s fish populations requires constant management due to environmental pressures and human demand. Fishing regulations protect vulnerable species, particularly the Galilean tilapia, which suffered a dramatic decline in catches due to overexploitation. This decline led to the establishment of an annual fishing ban, typically lasting four months from April to August, designed to protect tilapia during their spawning and brooding season.
Specific spawning grounds, such as the Batiha area in the northeast, are designated as protected zones where all fishing is prohibited. Conservation efforts also include the strategic stocking of native species and the management of introduced fish, such as silver carp and grey mullet. These strategies are complicated by fluctuating water levels and the introduction of non-native species, requiring ongoing collaboration to ensure the long-term viability of the lake’s unique fauna.