The Acts of Piracy Affecting Fishermen in Puntland Regions

The resurgence of piracy attacks off the coast of Somalia has greatly affected the lives of fishermen and traders living in the town of Bandar Bayla in Puntland, where security measures, arrests, and fishing restrictions have been implemented.

A report published by Al Jazeera stated that local fishermen are facing increasing economic hardship, after a decline in fish and resources, while foreign ships illegally fishing in Somali waters have undermined the livelihoods of those dependent on the sea.

Cabdifataax Maxamed, who has been a fisherman for 20 years, stated that marine production has decreased, making it difficult for him to provide for his family.

He noted that local fishermen cannot compete with large foreign vessels, stating that the collapse of the central government of Somalia in 1991 weakened the protection of the country's waters, creating opportunities for illegal fishing, while some locals later joined piracy.

At the end of August, the local administration prohibited fishermen from going to sea for two months, following concerns that pirates were disguising themselves as fishermen.

This restriction has posed a problem for many families whose livelihoods depend on marine production, and fishermen have also expressed fear of being suspected of supporting pirate groups or being mistaken for pirates by international naval forces.

Cabdirisaaq Saciid, who has worked in fishing in Bandar Bayla for 15 years, stated that many people have been arrested, some of whom are accused of delivering food or khat to the pirates.

Local businesses have also been warned against selling to those groups, with individuals violating this order facing security suspicion, and the pirate attacks have affected overall trade, with reports indicating that ships bringing goods from Yemen have halted their journeys to the shores of Somalia.

Jethro Norman, a senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies, stated that piracy cannot only be viewed as acts occurring at sea, but it can rely on networks on land that provide financing, equipment, personnel, and protection.

He noted that family and community ties sometimes facilitate the organization of these groups, making it essential to understand the supporting networks in the fight against piracy.

Although the situation is difficult, some local people are trying to prevent the youth from joining in piracy activities.

Cabdifataax Maxamed stated that recently armed youth attempted to go to sea, but the local people convinced them that such actions harm the entire community.

Officials from the Puntland administration who spoke to the media stated that security restrictions were lifted on October 1, following operations that freed three hijacked ships.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) confirmed on October 2 that the vessels Honour 25, Seamull, also known as Sibu 1, and Eureka have been released, with reports indicating that 44 crew members were freed, while five crew members died during the operation to rescue the Honour 25.

However, the lifting of the restrictions has not ended the security monitoring of the shores of Bandar Bayla, and officials have stated that the European Union naval aircraft are continuously flying over the city and remote coastal areas, monitoring the movements of armed individuals.

The resurgence of piracy comes at a time when international naval forces are facing security challenges in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

Local fishermen want to return to their work without fear of arrest or being mistaken for pirates, while the wider community faces the need for protection of marine resources, ensuring security, and revitalizing the economic sources of the coast.