Fishermen of Gaza

The boat leaves Gaza City harbour and heads out into the open sea. Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian

Captain Abdul Salam and his brothers and their sons work on the boat. Their family have been fishermen for generations. Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian

The larger boat tows the smaller boats out to sea, this helps to conserve fuel which is in short supply. Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian

Bright lights are used to attract the fish. These smaller boats are left at points where the captain thinks the fish are. The large boat returns hours later to surround it with a net to catch the fish. Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian

After leaving the smaller boats with their lights hopefully attracting fish, dinner is eaten on the main boat. Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian

The net is pulled in by winch and then by hand. Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian

The contents of the net are emptied onto the deck. Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian

Most of the fish caught are only very small young sardines. The fishing boats are stopped by the Israeli navy from fishing in deeper water where the bigger fish are found. Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian

The slightly bigger fish are seperated from the rest, as they fetch a higher price at market. Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian

Five times during the night the net is put into the sea. Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian

As the dawn begins to break the smaller boats are collected. Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian

With the catch in boxes the boat heads back to the harbour to make it in time for the market. Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian

Heading back to market. Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian

Back at Gaza City harbour, the catch is unloaded onto a waiting truck to be taken to market. Each of the men make about £10 for the night's work. Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian