Page 11 - Somalia Report

Table 1: Volume and value of f?sh caught by the artisanal f?eet in Somalia

Value per ton Annual landing Total annual value
Specie (US $) (Metric tons) US $
(Av 1997-2006)
Albacore 2,516 90 263,354 Country Profile
Yellowfin tuna 2,333 2,168 5,707,851 The Republic of Somalia

Swordfish 2,639 393 1,245,157
Mixed Group 1,051 26,413 27,770,359
Skipjack tuna 1,035 1,417 1,471,568
Bigeye tuna 1,485 2,913 5,044,167
Tropical lobster 9,959 453 4,390,080
Total 1,416 32,419 45,892,437

Source: Eleventh Schedule: Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, No. 47 of 2013

Food security

In Somalia, over 1 million people face food insecurity. The fisheries sector has great potential in
helping Somalia achieve food security. Somali’s fish consumption levels are very low – in 2016,
the food balance sheet indicated that 2.2 kg of fish is consumed per person per year compared to
9.9 kg per person per year for Africa (FAO, 2019). As such the country is failing to benefit from the
contributions that fisheries and aquaculture can make towards sustainable food security and income.

The constraints

Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated f?shing (IUU)
Globally, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) is said to be valued at between US $10-23 billion
per annum and is sometimes associated with other crimes (FAO, 2020). Indeed, the lack of regulation,
weak management regime and unstable political situation in Somalia are fertile ground for IUU
fishing to thrive. IUU has intensified marine insecurity and unsustainability in Somalia. Networks of
illegal fishers and poachers focus on the EEZ, targeting the pelagic fish, lobsters, sea lions and turtles.

The impacts of IUU may be seen in overfishing with negatives impacts on the fish stock and food
security. The overexploitation of Somalia’s EEZ, subsequent low-income generation and strict clamp
down by police on trawlers pushed some into marine tourism, agriculture and even piracy, especially
after 2006.

IUU also comes with additional threats of the dumping of oil and toxic waste into the ocean especially
when illegal vessels are under threat (FGS, 2017). Addressing this issue is of paramount importance
for the sustainability of the fisheries resource and marine ecosystem.

Lack of f?sheries information to support policy
There is limited accurate and up-to-date catch and landing data in Somalia, which is a major
challenge to be overcome in the management and development of the sector as a whole. Although

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