Puntland State vows crackdown on illegal fishing to protect marine resources

Thursday April 23, 2026

Garowe (AX) — Puntland State has moved to tighten its grip on the region’s coastline, announcing a sweeping crackdown on illegal fishing and warning that Somali and foreign operators caught violating maritime rules will face firm legal consequences.

In a statement released Wednesday, the Puntland State Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources said it would step up patrols and inspections to curb illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, a practice officials say is degrading marine ecosystems and eroding the income of coastal communities.

“Anyone found involved in such activities will be subject to legal action,” the ministry said, adding that the system for issuing fishing licenses will be tightened to ensure compliance with regulations.

The ministry also urged investors and business leaders to pursue lawful opportunities in the sector, pointing to aquaculture, cold storage and fish marketing as areas that could help expand the local economy.

Officials said the initiative is intended to protect marine resources while advancing food security and sustainable development across Puntland State.

Somalia is estimated to lose about $300 million each year to IUU fishing, much of it linked to foreign fleets taking advantage of weak enforcement, limited naval capacity and gaps in regulatory oversight. The activity has put mounting pressure on fish stocks, including high-value species such as yellowfin tuna, and has deepened the strain on local fishing livelihoods.