By Warsame Digital Media
Uncategorized
April 30, 2019
Translation from WDM Somali Article:
There is an outcry coming from the waters of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea along the Somali coastline in Garacad, Obbia, Merka, Kismayo, Berbera, Lasqoray, Bosaaso, and Alula—both cries for help and anger arising from illegal fishing practices. This distress signals a need for assistance and a call to stop illegal fishing, toxic waste dumping, environmental degradation, and the destruction of fish habitats (fish nurseries), as well as local fishermen’s boats and fishing nets.
With thousands of foreign fishermen operating off the Somali shores mentioned above, the lights from their vessels illuminate the nighttime like major cities of the 21st century.
Most of these vessels are engaged in deep-sea fishing, disrupting marine ecosystems, hindering fish spawning, destroying millions of eggs, and leaving behind wide-ranging debris. Local fishermen are despairing as they witness the destruction of their boats and the nets they rely on for their daily livelihoods. They are also concerned about the toxic fish and pollutants being dumped along the shores, along with suspicious containers washing ashore. Many residents of the coastal areas are suffering from strange diseases, skin ailments, and premature births.
Illegal fishing and toxic dumping are known to be the primary causes of piracy off the Somali coastline. This piracy has evolved into organized crime linked to global trafficking.
In recent years, various governments in Somalia and warlords have been issuing fishing licenses to foreign vessels and companies involved in a corrupt system. The Federal Government has now begun to enter the fray by signing fishing contracts with foreign entities; providing licenses that they are unable to enforce or have any expertise to prevent the use of prohibited fishing equipment.
Today, in Garowe, the capital city of Puntland, a conference featuring the ministers of fisheries from Somalia—both Federal and state—was hosted, ostensibly to discuss fishing resources, but they have never spoken about environmental protection.
This is a chaotic situation in which all economic and trade thieves in the world are competing. There is an outcry coming from the Somali sea.
By Ismail Warsame
Ismailwarsame@gmail.com
Warsame Policy & Media Network (WAPMEN) 