Somalia: Puntland says fishing trawler opens fire on herders

GAROWE, Somalia-An official in Somalia’s northeastern State of Puntland has said, armed protection guards on a fishing trawler off Puntland have shot into nearby countryside of a coastal village, some kilometers off former pirate hub, Eyl , Garowe Online reports. 

Speaking with GO by phone, Maraya village administrator Abdirashed Hassan Botan has complained about the alarming extent of exacerbating depletion by Iranian, Pakistani and Yemeni dhows and fishing trawlers in territorial waters off the coast of Puntland.  

He added that foreign crews are armed with machine guns and skiffs on board, seeing them engage in on-land pillage that netted fishing gears of locals, something, he said, could led to resurgence of Somali piracy.  

Stray bullet and other rounds of fired ammunition were reportedly found in areas wandered by nomadic communities languishing in El Nino-induced ravaging drought in the region.  

When called, the local official noted, that Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) commanders insisted, they are not charged with operations onshore. 

He asked Somalia Federal Government, Puntland and International Community to respond to their complaints soonest.  Puntland labels illegal fishing in Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) a ‘national disaster’.

GAROWEONLINE