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Yellowfin tuna stocks threatened as illegal fishing costs Somalia $300 million annually


Friday January 17, 2025


A Somali fisherman carries a freshly caught tuna at a local port in Mogadishu. Somalia’s fisheries face increasing pressure from illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, threatening livelihoods and marine ecosystems.

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. 

Somalia boasts the longest coastline in continental Africa and some of the most productive fishing grounds in the Indian Ocean. Yet, it remains a hotbed for illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Foreign vessels, including those from China, Iran, and Pakistan, exploit the country’s resources through destructive methods like bottom trawling and the use of fish-aggregating devices (FADs), which have depleted fish stocks and devastated marine habitats. Critics point to weak maritime governance, corruption, and poorly enforced contracts as key factors enabling the crisis.

Yellowfin tuna,  a species prized in global markets for its economic value, is facing a collapse that could devastate Somalia’s economy and regional and global food security. Experts warn that without urgent intervention, yellowfin tuna stocks could decline by 70% within a decade, a scenario that would have catastrophic ripple effects on fisheries-dependent communities. As a result, it was designated as overfished by the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) in 2015. Despite this, the IOTC, responsible for managing tuna stocks, has struggled to enforce conservation measures. The group said the resistance of influential member states like the European Union hindered it.

Illegal fishing has long been linked to acts of piracy off Somalia’s coast. For years, Somalia-based gangs have cited IUU fishing as a justification for their activities.

Somalia’s weak governance has left it vulnerable to exploitation. Decades of civil conflict and instability have hampered its ability to monitor and regulate its waters effectively. The Somali Federal Fishery Law, which outlines strict regulations against IUU fishing, is often undermined by corruption and conflicting regional-federal interests.

For example, the Puntland regional government has resisted federal directives to deny state-level fishing licenses, arguing that such measures violate resource-sharing agreements. The lack of cohesive governance enables foreign vessels to operate without valid permits, exacerbating overfishing and environmental degradation.

A 2018 agreement permitting Chinese companies to fish within 24 nautical miles of Somalia’s coastline exemplifies the systemic governance challenges undermining the country’s fisheries sector. Yet, a 2019 report uncovered how the Liao Dong Yu fleet, a Chinese vessel, bypassed these legal boundaries altogether. Instead of adhering to federal regulations, the fleet obtained fishing licenses from Puntland authorities under questionable circumstances. The arrangement was reportedly facilitated by businessman and senator Dahir Ayande, a close ally of Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni, and spotlights how political connections can erode the governance of Somalia’s natural resources.

Critics argue that a lack of transparency in awarding fishing contracts has emboldened illegal activities. 

Chinese vessels, employing highly destructive techniques, remain actively involved in illegal tuna fishing along Somalia’s coastline. These include the use of large purse seines and longline vessels to harvest enormous quantities of tuna, bottom trawling that devastates seabeds, and even dynamite fishing, which employs explosives to kill and gather fish indiscriminately. Such unsustainable methods deplete already overexploited fish stocks and cause irreparable harm to Somalia’s marine ecosystems, further endangering the livelihoods of local fishing communities.

The transnational nature of the crime has hampered efforts to combat IUU fishing. These activities are linked to organized criminal networks and often involve money laundering, human trafficking, and other illicit practices.

In response, Somalia has addressed IUU fishing, including banning trawling in federal waters and enhancing licensing transparency. Partnerships with Turkey and Denmark, alongside the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), have led to fines for illegal fishers and the seizure of vessels. Experts recommend adopting advanced monitoring technologies and regional task forces to bolster enforcement.

However, despite the trawler ban, Turkish fisherman are still reportedly operating in Somali waters under a bilateral agreement.

Robert McKee, a global maritime security expert and former advisor with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), stresses the urgency of a coordinated response to IUU fishing. Speaking to ENACT, he underlined the need to bolster regional monitoring, control, and surveillance systems while establishing dedicated task forces to enforce fisheries laws. McKee advocates for decisive actions, including the seizure of illegal vessels, arrests of offenders, and confiscation of prohibited fishing equipment, as vital steps toward safeguarding Somalia’s beleaguered yellowfin tuna stocks.



 





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