Somalia: Puntland Govt bans lobster trade

GAROWE, Somalia Sept 17, 2014 (Garowe Online)-Puntland Government in northern Somalia has banned lucrative lobster trade until March 2015 on Wednesday, Garowe Online reports.

According to a press statement from Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Minister of State Abdirahman Kulmiye announced the ban on deep-sea lobsters, citing that the coveted species are on the verge of extinction.

“The depletion of marine resources, particularly lobsters is imminent,” said Kulmiye in the statement and urged fishermen and fishing cooperatives to comply with the ministerial decree.

Continuing, he warned illegal foreign fishing vessels in the territorial waters against any breach and threatened with appropriate action.

Meanwhile, Mursal Nur Hoshle a local clan elder in Bandar Beyla coastal town told Garowe Online that the ban would adversely affect lobster exports: “Large nets packed full of lobsters are now ready for takeoff and we do call on Puntland Government to reverse its stance”.

Puntland previously struck fishing deals with foreign trawlers but fishermen and local administrations have been complaining about the all-out-fishing by licensed vessels over the last five years. 

GAROWE ONLINE