Friday April 7, 2023
Somalia's Minister of Fisheries and Blue Economy, Ahmed Hassan Adan. CREDIT: SONNA
Mogadishu (HOL) - Somalia's Minister of Fisheries and Blue Economy, Ahmed Hassan Adan, has signed a law addressing the licensing, supervision, and protection of the Somali Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and Somali ships operating beyond the nation's waters.
The legislation outlines the procedures for granting licenses to foreign vessels, joint venture ships, and those owned by Somali citizens. It also establishes the requirements for tracking, monitoring, and inspecting fishing vessels and specifies the fees and bonds associated with various fishing licenses.
On March 21, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud signed the Fisheries Development and Management Act. Mohamud emphasized that foreign vessels have been
fishing illegally in Somali waters for the past thirty years, a situation the new law aims to address.
The Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy has
gathered evidence showing several fishing vessels from other countries illegally operating in Somali waters. These vessels have reportedly been active in the EEZ since January 2023, posing a significant threat to the country's sustainable fishing regulations, fish stocks, and marine ecology.