Puntland Maritime Police Capture Illegal Fishing Vessel

The Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) has seized a fishing vessel off the coast of Qandala in Bari Region.

A Puntland naval official, Mohamed Ahmed Afis, told the media that the navy captured the ship off the coast of Qandala on the 19th of this month.

”Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) seizes illegal fishing vessel off the coast of Qandala, Bari region,” Mohamed Ahmed Afish, Puntland Coast Guard

He said that the ship was carrying 10 crew members including one engineer, a captain and eight fishermen, but did not say the nationality of the vessel.

Earlier this year, Puntland authorities seized ten boats and their crews fishing illegally off the coast of Puntland.

The government also started issuing fishing licences last year in an effort to further enhance maritime security.

Foreign boats in Somali waters have been a problem for years. Some of them operate with no license at all. Others buy permits from Somali authorities, though at times under questionable circumstances.

Jama Feyte