Mogadishu (Somalistandard) – The Banadir Regional Court in Somalia has recently brought charges against 36 foreign individuals accused of engaging in illegal fishing activities within Somali waters.
The Attorney General’s Office initiated the prosecution, which requested a trial postponement. Last month, the Somali navy apprehended the accused fishermen while they were found in possession of more than 30 tons of fish that had been acquired without proper authorization from Somali waters.
In response, the court ruled for the seized fish to be auctioned off, and the Somali government expressed its intention to sell the confiscated catch.
Since January 2023, the Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy has collected evidence revealing numerous instances of foreign fishing vessels unlawfully operating within the Somali Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
For years, the waters off the coast of Somalia have been plagued by the detrimental effects of Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, resulting in significant environmental and economic consequences.
According to Somali fisheries law and the nation’s constitution, only the Minister of Fisheries and Blue Economy from the Federal Government has the authority to issue fishing permits to foreign entities.
The Ministry has confirmed that the fishing vessels in question were operating without the necessary access agreements or licenses granted by the Federal Government.
In September, the regional government of Puntland rejected a directive from the federal authorities to deny fishing licenses at the state level, arguing that it violated resource-sharing agreements established with Somalia’s regional governments.
Foreign vessels engaged in IUU fishing have been present in Somali waters for many years, inflicting substantial harm on the marine environment and jeopardizing the livelihoods of Somali fishermen.
These foreign fishing fleets initially took advantage of the absence of a functioning government and weak maritime security in the country.
They employ destructive practices, such as overfishing, incidental catching of non-target species, and the use of harmful fishing gear that damages the seabed and coral reefs.
These activities have led to a decline in fish stocks, posing a threat to food security and depriving local communities of their means of sustenance.
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