Somali government has urged the European Union and its allies to help fight against illegal fishing in Somalia’s waters.
In a statement, Somali minister for fisheries, Abdullahi Bidhan Warsame called on the international anti-piracy forces operating in Somali waters for help to seize these boats for prosecution.
The minister said 43 vessels belonging to Iran and Pakistan are currently illegally fishing in Somalia waters.
He urged the international community to invest more resources in supporting the country’s efforts to stop illegal fishing on its territorial waters.
The minister warned the foreign vessels to stop carrying out illegal fishing.
He expressed concern over illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in Somalia’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
Foreign boats in Somali waters have been a problem for years. Some of them operate with no license at all.
Following a spike in piracy along the 3,000km Somali coastline in 2008, the EU deployed a navy force with support from members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).
