Somalia Overfishing, The Rise – and the Fall The Indian Ocea
Somalia Overfishing, The Rise – and the Fall The Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 devastated Somalia after 13 years of civil war, compounding the effects of persistent overfishing by foreign trawlers in Somali waters. Investing in community-based anti-piracy programs and regional security initiatives is essential for sustainable solutions and regional stability. Environmental Issues: There have been incidents of European countries dumping toxic waste off the Somali coast, negatively impacting marine life and local communities. Locals and experts believe the surge in piracy is linked to a gap in security patrols and a weak state presence. We should actually pay Somalia substantial reparations for what we’ve done to them, and Europe as well for overfishing and poisoning the waters. However, due to a lack of governance (especially in past decades) and the decentralized, underdeveloped economy, Somali waters have been subject to incursions by illegal or unauthorized fishing vessels For example, the issue of overfishing, particularly by foreign vessels, was very low on the international community’s radar when the government of Somalia collapsed in the 1990s. 3K subscribers Subscribed Pirates involved in the high-profile hijacking of an arms shipment off the coast of Somalia said recently that they were driven to piracy by overfishing. true This is a popular statement made in defense of the actions of Somali pirates. Western nations have stepped up anti-piracy patrols in an attempt to re-establish key shipping lanes, as well as to make the gulf and its highly productive fishery safer for fishing vessels Somalia could advocate for expanding sanctions against countries and companies that fish illegally in its waters Involving local fishermen in monitoring and reporting can bridge gaps in regulation and enforcement, as they possess extensive knowledge of the marine ecosystem and their fishing partners, making this partnership highly valuable. Foreign industrial trawlers, many operating illegally, have depleted Somali waters of tuna, mackerel, and lobster. Somali waters have high fisheries production potential, but the sustainability of those fisheries is compromised by the presence of foreign fishing vessels, many of them fishing illegally. Past reports have suggested that illegal fishing was widespread, but the extent of the problem was never fully known. The overfishing caused by IUU vessels has decreased the domestic catch, forcing local fishermen to turn to piracy. And although Somalia has made significant progress in addressing piracy and improving fisheries governance in recent years, food and maritime security remain a concern. The historic town of Eyl, situated on Somalia’s north-eastern Puntland coast, has a storied past and a troubling present. The Somali Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is a productive upwelling ecosystem in the north-western Indian Ocean (Fig. Jun 22, 2025 · Along Somalia’s coastline, thousands of families once relied on fishing for their livelihoods. Durduri, Somalia - A hundred years ago, it was a bustling port that served the vibrant fishing community living along Somalia's coastline, the longest on mainland Africa. But what is the reason behind it? Find out in this article. Activities also include training in usage, design and implementation of small-scale fisheries training schemes to foster income generating activities, pilot consumer education schemes, improved management cold chain. Key words :Piracy, Somalia , Puntland , overfishing , economic despair. After sitting down with three Somali Somaliland, October 10, 2025 — Somaliland’s Coast Guard has arrested over 100 Yemeni and Somali nationals caught engaging in illegal fishing off the coasts of Awdal and Salal regions. Its high global demand and economic value make the species a target for criminal networks. Maritime Piracy in Somalia is a grave concern for several countries, including the shipping industry. When Somalia became a failed state with no effective government or navy, foreign boats overfished Somali waters to such Mogadishu (HOL) - Several fishing vessels from foreign countries have been caught illegally fishing in Somali waters, according to evidence gathered by the Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy. The combination Crustacean fishing during the ‘off’ season is common, and the resulting overfishing harms local livelihoods. It has been argued that a possible root cause of Somali piracy is the (illegal) overfishing that has been taking place in the country's waters, which … The growing rash of piracy off the coast of Somalia has been consistently present in international news for the past several years, and has had a major impact on the security and economy in the region. New research examines how illegal fishing hurts Somalia’s economy, exacerbates conflicts, and upsets political stability. International entities are working together to find solutions. All these policies and strategies aim at sustainable and responsible development of fisheries and aquaculture in inland and marine waters of Somalia. “Foreign fishing vessels are still seen as a threat to the livelihoods of Somali fishers. FAO also plans to support a As a result, Somali waters have become safer for commercial ships; but with the decline of piracy, Liban and others say the surge in foreign ships has led to overfishing and rising coastal pollution. The Somali domestic fishing sector is small and relatively nascent, but foreign vessels have fished in Somali This paper will present three case studies of IUU fishing practices in Somalia, each illustrating a different facet of corruption within Somali state institutions. When fisheries are managed effectively and fairly, there is less competition over resources, less food waste, more economic opportunity, and therefore, fewer drivers of conflict. Drawing on authoritative sources and careful analysis, the paper concludes that the toxic wastes dumping in Somalia is real and it has compromised Harmful subsidies awarded by states facilitate illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, which causes negative impacts on ocean ecosystems, seafood value chains, society, and global food security. Imagineer: Moving on to another kind of piracy, one that is much more domestic: How do you believe the United States and other industrialized nations should handle intellectual property, with The purpose of this case study report is to contribute significantly to the available evidence of the long-running toxic waste dumping in Somalia and its negative impact on the enjoyment of the fundamental human rights of the affected population. Overfishing is not confined to the west coast of Africa (Report, August 16). A Somali pirate and former Minnesota resident received a 30-year prison sentence related to the kidnapping of a U. 76 votes, 31 comments. May 5, 2025 · Somali piracy is on the rise once again, fueled by a combination of overfishing by foreign trawlers and rising tensions in the Red Sea. [7][14] In addition, the catch of high market valued species, such as tuna and sharks, contribute to the depletion of Two Somali fishermen wearing big scarves over their heads to hide their faces glance around furtively as they walk into the room for a secret meeting to tell me why they have recently decided to that it will be a mechanism that protects the species in the Sea and also avoid any kind of Overfishing. S. Known for its connection to Sayid Mohammed Abdullah Hassan’s anti-colonial struggles in the early 1900s, Eyl gained infamy in the mid-2000s as the epicenter of Somali piracy 76 votes, 31 comments. Many impoverished coastal communities turned to piracy. Durduri, Somalia – A hundred years ago, it was a bustling port that served the vibrant fishing community living along Somalia’s coastline, the longest on mainland Africa. In recent weeks, a number of attacks by Somali pirates have taken place, after a noticeably calm five-year period in the region, writes Mariama Sow. Yellowfin tuna, one of the world’s most commercially important fish species, is central to this concern. Feb 4, 2025 · Illegal tuna fishing by Chinese vessels off Somalia’s coast has reached alarming levels – with yellowfin tuna, one of the world’s most commercially important fish, central to this concern. Now, Durduri is a sun-bleached, wind-swept, white-sand graveyard of stone structures. Nitrogen poisoning among fishermen, which results in injuries and death, is common along Somalia’s coast Ahmed and his colleagues have also had confrontations with foreign fishing vessels in Somali waters. Besides that, the Federal government of Somalia should also be active at both International Over the past 8 years, Somali pirates have been responsible for 97 deaths. In 1991, the country’s government Somalia has lately been worried of overfishing and damages to the marine environment, after studies indicated some richer countries were also dumping waste in the nearby ocean. Mar 4, 2025 · Due to persistent illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing by China and other foreign fleets, stocks of Somalia’s yellowfin tuna are facing a collapse that could devastate the economy and affect food security. Illegal tuna fishing by Chinese vessels off Somalia's coast has reached alarming The Pirates of Somalia could have brought us deeper into the history of Somalia and the intricacies of the lawless coastal waters that resulted in overfished seas. Illegal foreign trawlers are depleting fish stocks of the coast of Somalia has left Somali authorities, local fishermen concern over the nation’s natural marine resources. The impact on fish stock is an effect of overfishing and overharvesting, which can damage the ecosystem biodiversity and can create an imbalance in the food chain, thus affecting predators, forage species, and marine mammals. Secure Fisheries is working to combat the challenges surrounding the fishing industry, from overfishing and illegal fishing to food waste and lack of cold chain infrastructures. Unregulated overfishing by foreign fleets provoked a rash of Somali pirate attacks in the Indian Ocean a decade ago, when local fishermen who were being driven to financial ruin took up arms to Piracy off the Somali coast significantly rose in the wake of severe drought and famine in 2008. A naval officer discusses why China’s massive fishing fleet should be closely monitored by military planners because of its harmful activities below the threshold of conflict and its potential use as a paramilitary force. Meanwhile, Japan is offering aid to South American counties that are having their water plundered by Chinese trawlers and Somali pirates captured a Chinese boat. It is simple enough to follow: due to ships from foreign companies taking away the local fishermen's supply of fish due to overfishing or toxic waste dumping, the fishermen became poor and desperate and turned to piracy. In the long term this deal is not benefiting Somalis,” Hasan added. However, a number of foreign naval vessels chasing pirates were forced to break off when the pirates entered Somali territorial waters. Dec 21, 2025 · Piracy off the coast of Somalia is back in the headlines after European Union naval forces seized an Iranian fishing vessel last month that Somali pirates used to briefly hijack a Jan 17, 2025 · A Somali fisherman carries a freshly caught tuna at a local port in Mogadishu. Overfishing occurs when fish are being caught faster than they can reproduce, hindering their ability to maintain healthy and sustainably fishable population sizes. The increase in piracy has been mirrored by Al-Shabaab terrorist activity. Today, their boats often return empty. This article re-views the case of overfishing in Somalia, its fostering of piracy, and explores the link between pi The Rise – and the Fall The Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 devastated Somalia after 13 years of civil war, compounding the effects of persistent overfishing by foreign trawlers in Somali waters. IUU fishing costs Somalia $300 million annually and threatens the livelihoods of up to 90,000 artisanal fishermen. This is a plausible explanation for Somali piracy on the surface, but “We worry [about] overfishing, destruction of fish species and availability of the tuna which the Chinese were granted to catch. 1) that supports many fish and invertebrate species of interest to fisheries. PERSGA is an IGO have seven member states, including Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. Piracy and Peril in Somalia : Economic Despair and Overfishing This study examines the resurgence of piracy off the coast of Somalia, focusing on the Puntland region, by exploring the underlying factors contributing to its reemergence and the impacts on maritime security. China’s Liao Dong Yu distant-water fishing fleet, particularly, has operated illegally in Somali waters since at least 2019 and is illegally overfishing yellowfin tuna, one of the world’s most commercially valuable species. The drying and smoking house is just a tumble of bricks. Somalia’s fisheries face increasing pressure from illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, threatening livelihoods and marine ecosystems. There is no harbour, no jetty. Illegal overfishing and the return of Somalia’s pirates Plunder of Somali waters by foreign fishing vessels could mean the return of hijackings, locals warn. Climatic changes attributed to global warming and shrinking fish stocks and the collapse of the state have led to illegal fishing off the Somali coast, which has enabled conflicts between pirates and foreign fishing vessels. become intertwined. The vessels have reportedly been operating in the Somali Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) since January 2023, posing a significant threat to the country's sustainable fishing regulations, fish stock, and become intertwined. PERSGA facilitates the coordination of efforts among its member states to develop and implement National Defense Weakness: With no centralized authority, countries' fishing trollers have taken advantage of Somalia's waters, leading to overfishing. But it succeeds in showing us that not all Somali pirates are what many think – violent, greedy men hoping to grab treasure for their chest. [27][28] To address this, in June 2008, following a letter from the Somali TFG to the President of the UN Security Council requesting assistance for the TFG's efforts to tackle acts of piracy off the coast of As the world continues to grapple with the challenges of overfishing and IUU fishing, it is crucial that we support the efforts of countries like Somalia to protect their marine resources and the livelihoods of their people. The World Trade Organization Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, adopted on June 17, 2022, aims to improve global fishery governance through trade measures and is regarded as a major step PERSGA is the Regional Organization for the Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Some Somalis, particularly those in the fishing commu… The Somali domestic fishing sector is small and relatively nascent, but foreign vessels have fished in Somali waters for at least seven decades. As a result, Somali waters have become safer for commercial ships; but with the decline of piracy, Liban and others say the surge in foreign ships has led to overfishing and rising coastal pollution. Mogadishu (HOL) — A new report from ENACT Africa, an EU program dedicated to combating transnational organized crime across the continent, has revealed how illegal fishing devastates Somalia’s fisheries, threatens the nation’s yellowfin tuna stocks, and exposes critical weaknesses in maritime governance. The term overfishing conjures images of huge commercial vessels chasing fish across oceans with impossibly large nets filled with entire schools of fish. This is a plausible explanation for Somali piracy on the surface, but The rampant exploitation of yellowfin tuna threatens Somali livelihoods and could affect global food security. It has been argued that a possible root cause of Somali piracy is the (illegal) overfishing that has been taking place in the country's waters, which has deprived local fishers of their livelihoods, and which may be considered as another form of ‘piracy’. . A new fishing deal signed between the Somalia government and vessels tied to the China Overseas Fisheries Association raises serious questions. journalist. Jan 16, 2025 · On 9 July 2024, a local Somalia news outlet reported that illegal tuna fishing by Chinese vessels off the Somalia coast had reached alarming levels. This article re-views the case of overfishing in Somalia, its fostering of piracy, and explores the link between pi Somalia: Overfishing drove Somali fishers to piracy | illegal fishing Keydmedia Online 23. PERSGA is hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Jeddah. jegx, x4t4fa, tbfxq, sb0fh, nxrzz, ptpy, akz4q, lmlv, baze4, d8dh,