Somalia: Fishermen in Eyl complain about illegal vessels
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- Posted On 24-02-2015, 01:44PM
EYL, Somalia, February 24, 2015 (Garowe Online)-Fishermen in Eyl Coastal town of north-eastern Somalia have complained about illegal fishing vessels that are proliferating at an alarming rate, Garowe Online reports.
On Tuesday, Eyl fisherman, Abdidahir Mahad Bulhan said on VOA Somali Service that trawlers, dhows and other fishing vessels have begun to maintain increased presence in territorial waters.
He added that trawlers are not only depleting marine resources but destroyed fishing gears and nets of local fishermen.
Puntland’s Ministry for Fisheries has in turn called for domestic cooperation on an end to illegal fishing by Asia-flagged trawlers.
In late 2014, GO learned that South Korean, Chinese, Iranian and Yemeni vessels plundered tonnes of fishes, with some of them licensed by Fisheries and Marine Resource Ministry.
Last year, Puntland President Dr. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali labelled illegal fishing ‘National Disaster’, threatening intruders with firm action.
Lack of effective legislation over the last two decades, lately coupled with weak central governments is said to have encouraged extraordinary pillage on Africa’s the second largest coastline.
GAROWE ONLINE
