Somalia has banned fishing trawlers from fetching fish in its territorial seas, part of a new effort to stop overexploitation of the fishes in the Indian Ocean.
The Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy in a circular dated April 6 said vessels will no longer be permitted to pull trawlers, a deep-sea indiscriminate fishing instrument that some critics say nets even the unwanted species and hence deplete the maritime wildlife.
“The Ministry notifies all fishing companies and vessels in Somali waters a crucial regulation outlined in the Somali Federal Fishery law, specifically in article 31… trawling activities within the Somali Federal territorial waters are strictly prohibited,” the circular says.
“Any violations of this regulation may result in fines, imprisonment, confiscation of fish products acquired, and confiscation of equipment for trawling.”
Read: ‘Incognito’ fishing vessels deny Africa $11bn in annual revenues
The notification comes after Somalia, in March, released 33 Iranian fishermen and sailors imprisoned in the country for practising Illegal, Unreported, And Unregulated (IUU) fishing within Somali waters.
By ABDULKADIR KHALIF
theeastafrican.co.ke
