Puntland releases seven Yemeni fishermen arrested over illegal fishing in Somali waters
The fishermen were arrested by Puntland security forces on May 14, 2025, near Ras Asir, after the local coast guard intercepted their vessel. Officials said the crew was using a banned fishing method known as “Hawi” and did not have a registered representative within Puntland.
Seven Yemeni fishermen who had been detained in the Puntland region of Somalia have been released, according to a statement from the Yemeni Embassy in Somalia.
The group had been held for nearly two months after entering Somali waters without authorisation from Puntland’s Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources.
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The fishermen were arrested by Puntland security forces on May 14, 2025, near Ras Asir, after the local coast guard intercepted their vessel. Officials said the crew was using a banned fishing method known as “Hawi” and did not have a registered representative within Puntland.
Both of these actions are violations of the region’s fisheries laws, which require foreign fishing operations to obtain proper licenses and coordinate with the relevant ministry.
"This is a clear breach of Puntland's fisheries law. The boat and its crew did not comply with the required legal and regulatory protocols," the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources said in a statement.
The embassy of Yemen confirmed the release of the seven fishermen and used the opportunity to remind Yemeni nationals to avoid fishing in Somali territorial waters unless they have received formal permission.
In its public statement, the embassy emphasised that all fishing activities in Somali maritime zones must be properly licensed to avoid arrest or prosecution by Somali authorities at either the federal or regional level.
The release follows an earlier incident in which 26 other Yemeni fishermen were freed by Puntland authorities earlier this month. Like the recently released group, the 26 had been accused of fishing without permission in Somali waters.
Reports from Yemeni media sources indicate that both releases were the result of diplomatic efforts between Yemeni and Somali officials. The release of the latest group of fishermen was confirmed in an official letter signed by Mahmoud Mohamed Ali, the Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources in Puntland.
According to the document, the pardon was granted after the Yemeni Embassy in Mogadishu submitted a formal request, which was supported by letters from the Yemeni government. The letter was sent to several Puntland authorities, including the President of the Court of Appeals in Bargal, the Judge of Ras Asir, and regional governors.
“The pardon was issued within the framework of the historical and brotherly relations between the Somali and Yemeni peoples,” the letter stated.
The vessel used by the seven fishermen has also been seized due to its use of the "Hawi" method, which is outlawed under Puntland fishing regulations. The practice is considered environmentally harmful and is prohibited to protect marine resources.
Puntland has continued to monitor its coastal waters to enforce local fishing regulations and prevent unauthorised fishing activities.
Puntland officials have urged foreign fishermen and vessel operators to follow proper procedures before entering Somali maritime territory.
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