Authorities in Somalia’s semi-autonomous region of Puntland have fined a foreign vessel for its illegal fishing acts in the regional waters, an official has said.
The Vessel which is yet to be identified was intercepted few months ago by the Puntland coast guard without license and authorization while fishing.
18-crew members on-board of Iranian nationality and the boat was transferred to Haafun district where a court sentenced them to pay $18,000 USD as a fine.
‘’ The vessel was carrying 9-tonnes of fish which they caught from our seas, the crew members are all Iranians,’’ Mohamud Musse, a senior official from the Ministry of Interior.
Puntland is battling to curb illegal fishing, which is threatening fishing stocks and lives of hundreds of local fishermen.
Somalia has the longest coastline in Africa with 3,330 KM. Since the central government was overthrown in 1991, foreign fishing trawlers began illegal fishing and ships from big companies started dumping waste off the coast of the lawless country.
Horseed Media
Somalia: Puntland fines illegal foreign fishing vessel
Published: March 18, 2015
