Somalia: Foreign vessels fishing illegally in our waters

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somalia has warned foreign nations against fishing in her waters, noting that the Ministry in charge of Fisheries and Blue Economy has established the illegality, which risks depleting the country's natural resources which are critical for development.

In a statement, the ministry said the vessels have been fishing in Somalia's Exclusive Economic Zone [EEZ] for the last two months, significantly affecting marine ecology in Somalia, which enjoys a coastline of 3,333 kilometers, which stretches from Kiunga to Berbera in the north.

For decades, Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated fishing has been a norm in the country's coastline, with those involved violating national and international laws without being noticed. This, the ministry argues, has cost the country a fortune.

In this context, the fishing vessels have been accessing Somali waters without any agreements with the country and, or fishing licenses. Fishing permits can only be issued by the Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy of the federal government of Somalia.

But despite the clear regulations from the government, Puntland regional administration has been issuing fishing licenses, defying an order issued by Mogadishu over the same. Garowe argued that the directive violated the resource-sharing principles between the federal government and the regional states.

Already, Mogadishu has come up with procedures and rules which guide the issuance of fishing permits across the country, in a strategy geared towards centralizing the process to avoid confusion. Endorsement letters, the ministry added, are no longer going to be considered valid legal permits.

To cure the situation, the ministry has since directed that all foreign vessels illegally fishing in Somalia exit forthwith, noting that there is a need to comply with existing laws and regulations. It is estimated that Somalia can make up to millions of dollars in a proper and we'll regulated fishing environment which can be used for development in the country.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud had pledged to help the country increase domestic revenue which will assist Mogadishu to expand development activities outside high dependency on foreign aid. The country's budget solely depends on foreign aid with very little coming from domestic revenue collection.

GAROWE ONLINE