17 initiative, but it aims to support the development of Somalias judiciary and a land-based
coastal police capability supported by regulatory framework, which are currently considered vital for Somalia. The mission works with the FGS, Puntland State and Somaliland. In 2014, the
EUCAP Nestor trained about 150 Coast Guards
9
in Somalia and Somaliland. The coastguards could be key to deterring IUU. No details are available yet, but a leading official interviewed at
the Ministry of Fisheries in Somaliland said that projects financed by EU, Norway and the UK Department for International Development DFID are in the pipeline.
3.2 Local and International NGOs
The International NGOs Oxfam UK and STIDIT Dutch, in cooperation with the European Union EU and in partnership with the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources of Puntland
State and local organizations, are supporting the fisheries sectors in Somalia Puntland and Somaliland. KAALO is the local implementing partner in Puntland and in Somaliland, it is
HAVOYOCO. This partnership involves working with the government on capacity building and with the private sector, including fishing communities, on increasing fish production and
improving the livelihoods of fishermen and their families. The EU is providing €5 million to fund a two-phase
10,
three year 2014-2016 project. Oxfam is the implementing agency for the first phase, and Dutch organization STIDIT
11
is involved in the second. Adeso is also an active contributor in the fisheries sector, including in port development, and provision of training and
fishing gear to the coastal communities, as well as coastal habitat restoration through the planting of mangroves, among other activities
12
. In addition, other organizations active in Puntland, including the
International Organization for Migration
IOM, the Danish Refugee Council DRC and CESVI are involved in training fishermen, private fishing companies and coastal communities, securing provision of fishing
equipment and establishing fishing infrastructure along the coastal areas in coordination with Puntlands Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources
13
.
3.3 Role of Government
The absence of a central government in Mogadishu for many years has led to major tribulations in Somalia. Many years of war and foreign intervention had also halted all attempts to form a
national government. This has negatively affected management of the fisheries sector and allowed foreign fishing companies, including from the region, to transgress into Somali waters-a
practice that continues to this day. Over the last two years, constructive attempts have been
9
Personal communication with Marco Hekkens of the Somalia office of EU CAP Nestor, August 16, 2014, Nairobi.
10
Personal communication with Ed Pomfre and Ahmed Yusuf Hirsi of OXFAM, August 8, 2014, Nairobi, Kenya.
11
http:www.stidit.nlenprojectenproject.html?txttnews5Btt_newsD=342
12
Remarks made by Adeso Executive Director, Degan Ali, April 21, 2015.
13
Coordination meeting called for by the Director General of Ministry of Fisheries and Marine resources of Puntland, August 21, 2014, in Boosaaso, Puntland State of Somalia.
18 made towards managing Somali fisheries resources. The federal government, federal member
states and Somaliland held a number of meetings to coordinate management of the fisheries sector. As part of the Somali Maritime Resources and Security Strategy Fisheries Working
Group, successive meetings took place first in the Seychelles and later in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa in May 2014 MRSS, 2014.
At the Seychelles meeting on April 6, 2014, representatives from the FGS, Jubbaland, Galmudug, Puntland and Somaliland deliberated on various maritime issues, including the
protection of fisheries resources. They also discussed illegal fishing, the security of Somalia and the need to conserve, manage and sustainably exploit marine resources, as well as the risks of
illegal fishing and toxic waste dumping in Somali waters
14
. They appealed to the international community for support with the drafting of fisheries laws, improving monitoring, control and
surveillance MCS and marine research, and creating employment opportunities for Somali youth in the marine sector. To follow up the Seychelles meeting, representatives from FGS and
Member States attended a meeting in Addis Ababa. They recommended formalizing the EEZ and establishing a Federal Somali Fishing Authority FSFA that would be mandated to manage,
conserve and administer offshore, highly migratory fish stocks
15
. Regarding fisheries regulations, the FGS adopted a revised and updated version of the Somalia Fishing Law No. 23
of 1985
16
of the Democratic Republic of Somalia. This law requires all local and foreign fishing vessels to be registered and licensed. However, there are limitations to its enforcement due to
a lack of security, the shortage of funds and trained manpower. Puntland State and Somaliland have fisheries laws in place that are also based on the 1985 Fishery Law No. 23. Puntland
States fisheries law has provisions for the registration of fishermen and fishing vessels artisanal boats and industrial vessels. The Republic of Somaliland also issued a regulation on
the registration and licensing of fishing vessels in 2012
17
that is more detailed than the other two laws.
As is the case with the FGS, Puntland State and Somaliland also lack the financial and technical resources needed to make their fisheries laws effective at deterring local and foreign vessels
from fishing illegally. On a positive note however, last September Puntland authorities apprehended South Korean trawlers allegedly fishing illegally just 3.2 km from the shore
18
. If such actions by authorities in Puntland or Somaliland continue and the fishing companies and
crew are appropriately penalized for their illegal actions, it could deter other illegal fishing vessels in the region.
14
Seychelles Communique, April 6, 2014
15
Addis Ababa Communique, May 3, 2014.
16
A draft version of this law was submitted by the Ministry of Natural Resources of the FGS to the Prime Minister for cabinet discussion and approval Source: Ministry of Natural
Resources of the FGS, June 5, 2013.
17
http:www.somalilandlaw.comsomaliland_fishery_law.html Accessed on Oct. 23,
2014.
18
http:www.aljazeera.comnewsafrica201409somalia-cracks-down-illegal-fishing- 201492320535275716.html
.
19 The current fisheries laws in force at federal and state levels and in Somaliland need to be
updated and harmonized to enable uniform and effective enforcement. In this regard, Somalia
and Somaliland will have to jointly plan an enforcement mechanism and coordinate their enforcing units to protect the fisheries resources effectively. This could be done in cooperation
with international partners. At present, the enforcement of existing fisheries laws is very weak or non-existent.
In Somaliland, vessels are legally obliged to report their total catch by type for each fishing period, but not all vessels follow that law to the letter. Industrial vessels are required to have
two onboard observers, but they may be under pressure as the vessel owners pay them. Another cause for concern is the lack of coordination between the various ministries and
departments involved in fisheries
19
. With regard to illegal fishing in Somaliland waters, Yemenis are reportedly the main culprits. They catch all sorts of fish but particularly target bottom
feeders. Other intruders fishing illegally in offshore waters may be there but difficult to identify. The enormous number of Yemeni fishing boats could damage fish habitats and stocks in the
long term. Egyptian vessels licensed by the Ministry and using bottom trawls are also causing large-scale habitat destruction that photo evidence supports.
3.4 Role of Neighboring Countries
