Somalia: Illegal yellowfin tuna fishing exposes gaps in the Country’s maritime security

Weak governance systems and irregularly awarded deep-sea fishing contracts could deplete the country’s fisheries resources – including the threatened yellowfin tuna.

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illegal tuna fishing in the somali coast

SLSUN: On 9 July 2024, a local Somalia news outlet reported that illegal tuna fishing by Chinese vessels off the Somalia coast had reached alarming levels. Yellowfin tuna, one of the world’s most commercially important fish species, is central to this concern.

The high global demand for the yellowfin tuna and its significant economic value make it a target for criminal networks seeking to make profits from illegal fishing activities.

Since 2015, global commercial tuna catches have consistently surpassed sustainable catch limits to meet the high demands of global markets. In 2021, Planet Tracker warned that without urgent action, tuna stocks could collapse by 2026, with a minimum decline in adult biomass of at least 70% over 10 years. This indicates a potentially drastic reduction in the adult tuna population if sustainable measures are not adopted.

Somalia’s waters are a major fishing ground for tuna, and it is estimated that illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing costs the country US$300 million annually.

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