Hassan Istiila
Tuesday April 18, 2023
FILE: Photograph: Pierre Gleizes/Greenpeace
Mogadishu (HOL) - The Somali Attorney General's Office has brought charges against 36 foreign defendants caught by the Somali Navy for illegal fishing in the nation's waters.
In a statement released Monday, the navy forces also confiscated two boats carrying at least 30 tons of fish during their maritime operation.
Upon the request of the Attorney General's Office, the court imprisoned all the defendants and seized the fish from the boats.
The Attorney General's Office commended the Somali Navy for its dedication to protecting the country's marine resources and encouraged them to enhance their efforts to combat illegal fishing.
Last month, the Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy reported that several foreign fishing vessels were
discovered illegally fishing in Somali waters. These vessels have allegedly been operating in the Somali Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) since January 2023, posing a significant risk to the nation's sustainable fishing regulations, fish populations, and overall marine ecology.