United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

The UNODC Regional Office in East Africa (ROEA)

 Harmonising Efforts for Sustainable Fishing in Somalia 

Mogadishu, Somalia - On the 18th of December 2023, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Global Maritime Crime Programme (UNODC GMCP), in partnership with the Federal Government of Somalia Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy, convened a high-level stakeholder meeting in Mogadishu, focused on the critical aspects of Somalia's fisheries governance, enforcement, and prosecution. The meeting served as a platform to deliberate upon Somalia's formidable challenges in effectively managing its fisheries resources and the imperative to counter illegal fishing activities. 

The fishing industry in Somalia contributes to the country's economy, accounting for approximately 2% of the GDP. Somalia's fisheries are a resource for the country, contributing to both economic opportunities and food security. However, the fisheries sector in Somalia faces numerous challenges, including illegal. unregulated and unreported fishing (IUU) activities and overfishing, which have led to the depletion of fish stocks and a loss of revenue for the nation. Numerous laws are in place to protect Somalia’s marine ecosystems. These laws aim to protect and regulate the country's rich marine resources, ensuring sustainable practices and preventing illegal fishing activities. Additionally, the laws establish penalties for non-compliance, including fines and possible confiscation of equipment.

The UNODC-hosted meeting had 34 participants, including representatives from the Federal Government of Somalia, the Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy (MFBE), the Ministry of Port and Marine Transport (MPMT), federal member state Ministries of Fisheries (MOF), international organisations, local fishing communities and the Somali Police Force Department of Coast Guard (SPF-DCG). The discussions centred on developing strategic initiatives to foster sustainable fisheries governance, fortifying enforcement laws, and bolstering regional prosecution efforts.

A  communique was developed and extensively deliberated on critical issues surrounding the combat against IUU fishing. Additionally, the participants proposed recommendations and acknowledged challenges. The points encompassed a steadfast commitment to combating IUU fishing, reinforcing maritime governance structures, promoting sustainable fisheries management practices, fostering collaboration and cooperation among stakeholders, empowering coastal communities for responsible fisheries, seeking international support and assistance, prioritising awareness and education initiatives, implementing robust follow-up and monitoring mechanisms, advocating for gender equality in fisheries management, and promoting effective interagency cooperation. These elements collectively form a comprehensive strategy to address the multifaceted challenges associated with IUU fishing and foster sustainable practices in maritime ecosystems

H.E Ali Ifiye, Deputy for MFBE, stated, “If we take action based on the communique and decide to work together as the FMS, FGS, and UNODC, it will demonstrate our commitment to collaboration and cooperation. By combining our efforts, we can leverage our strengths and resources to protect our sea and its fishing resources. Partnership is crucial for combating illegal fishing activities and ensuring the sustainability of our fishing resources. We can benefit economically and environmentally by looking after our sea and its resources”. This principle was also noted by Mr Mostafa Elbanna, UNODC's Head of Country Office Somalia, who described UNODC's ongoing efforts to provide technical assistance and capacity building training programmes to enhance the country's law enforcement capabilitiesas “imperative”.

This event further highlighted the positive effects of enhancing partnerships in the fight against illegal fishing, such as the collaboration between the Government of Denmark and UNODC, which was strengthened by the successful completion of phase one of the Fisheries Governance, Enforcement, and Prosecution project and has resulted in the effective prosecution and imposition of fines totalling 396,000 USD, providing a deterrent to future illicit fishing activities. Thanks to the training provided by UNODC, the SPF-DCG, MFBE and prosecutors from the attorney general's office have been equipped to identify imminent threats and safeguard Somalia's coastline.

These principles and recommended actions from this meeting adhere to SDG 14 and further its goals of conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas, and marine resources. In addition, it also aligns with the UNODC's Strategic Vision for Africa 2030 in promoting sustainable development and safeguarding Africa's natural resources.

For more information, please contact:

Mr. David O’Connell (David.OConnell@un.org)

Western Indian Ocean Programme Coordinator

Global Maritime Crime Programme

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Click here to visit the UNODC Global Maritime Crime Programme website.

Iswaafajinta Dadaalada Loogu jiro Kalluumaysiga Joogtada ah ee Somalia.

Muqdisho, Soomaaliya - 18 December 2023, Xafiiska Qaramadda Midoobay u Qaabilsan Daroogada iyo Dambiyadda (UNODC GMCP) oo Kaashanaya Wasaaradda kaluumaysiga iyo dhaqaalaha Baluuga ah ee Dowladda Federalka Somaliya, ayaa Muqdishu ku qabtay  shir  heerkiisu sareeyo oo Daneeyayaasha  kasoo qayb galeen. Shirkaas oo dirada lagu saaray, dhinacyada muhiimka ah ee maamulka kallumaysiga Somaliya ,dhaqan galinta iyo xeer ilaalinta, kalunka, waxa uu noqday madal lagaga tashanayo caqabadaha waaweyn ee Somaliya ka haysta  si  hufan oo loo maareeyo kheyraadka kallumaysiga iyo sida  ay lagama  maarmaanka  u tahay ka hortaga kaluumaysiga sharcidarada ah.

Warshadaha  kallumaysiga ee Somaliya waxay ka qayb qaataan dhaqaalaha dalka, waxayna ka yihiin qiyaasti 2% GDP ga dalka. Kalumaysiga Soomaliya ayaa ah kheyraad uu dalku leeyahay,kasoo ka qayb qaata  fursadah dhaqaale iyo sugnaanta cuntada labadaba.Si kastaba ha ahaatee, waaxda kallumaysiga ee Soomaliya ayaa wajahaysa caqabado badan oo ay kamid yihiin, kaluumaysi sharci-darro ah oo aan sharciyaysnayn, oo aan lasoo wargalin iyo kalluumaysiga xad-dhaafka ah oo keenay in kaydkii kallunkan uu xaalufo, qarankuna uu waayo  dakhligii.Sharciyo badan ayaa jiro si loo ilaaliyo hab-nololeedka badda Soomaliya. Sharciyadan ayaa ujeedadoodu tahay ilaalinta iyo nidaaminta khayraadka badda ee hodanka ee dalka, xaqiijinta ku dhaqanka joogtada ah iyo kahortagga  falalka kallumaysiga sharci darada ah.Intaa waxaa dheer,Sharciyadu waxay dajiyaan ciqaabta u hogaansanaan la’aanta, oo ay ku jiraan ganaaxyada iyo la wareegida  suurtogalka ah ee qalabka.

Shirkan oo ay soo qaban qaabisan hay’adda UNODC ayaa waxaa ka soo qeyb galay 34 xubnood oo ay ku jiraan wakiilo ka socda dowlada federalka Somaliya,Wasaaradda kallumaysiga iyo dhaqaalaha buluuga ah (MFBE) Wasaaradda Dakadaha iyo Gadiidka Badda ee Somaliya (MPMT) Wasaaraddaha kallumasiga ee dowlad goboleedyadda xubnaha ka ah,Urrurada caalamiga ah,bulshooyinka kallumaysiga maxalliga ah iyo Waaxda ciidanka boliska Somaliyeed ee ilaalada xeebaha (SPG-DCG). Wadahadaladu waxay udub dhexaad u ahayeen horumanrinta hindisayaal istaraatiijiyadeed si loo kobciyo maamulka kallumaysiga,xoojinta sharciyadda fulinta iyo xoojinta dadaalada dacwad qaadka ee gobolka.

Waxaa la soo saaray war-murtiyeed si wayn looga dooday arrimaha xasaagiga ah eek u xeeran dagaalka ka dhanka ah kallumausiga sharci darada ah (IUU). Intaas waxaa dheer, ka qaybgalayaashu waxay soo jeediyeen talooyin waxayna qireen caqabadaha.Qodobada ayaa ka koobnaa ballan qaad joogto ah oo lagula dagaalamayo kallumaysiga sharcidarada ah (IUU),Xoojinta qaab-dhismeedka maamulka badda,horumarinta hab-dhaqannada maaraynta kallumaysiga waara, kobcinta  wada shaqaynta  iyo iskaashiga ka dhaxeeya  daneeyayaasha ,awood-siinta bulshooyinka xeebaha ee kallumaysiga masuulka ka ah,raadinta taageero calami ah, mudnaanta kowaad ee wacyigalinta iyo dadaalada waxbarshada,fulinta  si adag. Hababka dabagalka iyo lasocodka,u ololaynta sinaanta jinsiga ee marraynta kallumaysiga,iyo  kor u qaadida iskaashiga wax ku oolka ah ee hay’adaha.Cutubyadani waxay si wadajir ah u sameeyaan istaraatijiyad dhamaystiran si wax looga qabto caqabadaha  wajiyada badan leh  ee la xiriira kallumaysiga sharci darada ah (IUU) iyo kobcinta  dhaqamada  waara ee hab-nololeedyada badda.

Wasiir Ali Ifiye, Ku xigeenka MFBE ayaa yiri ‘’ Haddii aan qaadno tallaabo ku saleysan war-murtiyeedka oo aan go’aansanno in aan u wada-shaqayno federal member states iyo Federal Government of Somaliya iyo UNODC ahaan,waxay muujin doontaa sida ay nooga go’antahay iskaashiga iyo wadashaqaynta. Markaan isku geeyno dadaalkeena waxaan ka faa’ideynsan karnaa awoodeena si aan u ilalino baddeena iyo kheyraadkeeda kallumaysiga.Waxaynu ka faa’iidaysan karnaa dhaqaale ahaan iyo deegaan ahaanba  in aaynu ilaalino baddeena iyo khayraadkeeda.Mabda’aana waxaa sidoo kale xusay Mr Mostafa Elbanna, Madaxa xafiiska UNODC ee Soomaliya,oo ku tilmaamay dadaalka joogtada ah ee UNODC ee ku aadan bixinta kaalmada farsamo iyo barnaamijyada tababarida awooda si kor loogu qaado,awoodaha sharci-fulinta  dalka waa lama huraan.

Munaasabadan ayaa sidoo kale lagu soo bandhigay saameynta wanaagsan ee ay leedahay kor u qaadista iskaashiga ee la dagaalanka kalluumaysiga sharci darada ah, sida wada shaqeynta dowlada Denmark iyo UNODC,taasoo lagu xoojiyay in si guul ah loo soo gabagabeeyey wajigii koowaad ee Maamulka kalluumaysiga, hirgalinta iyo mashruuca xeer ilaalinta iyo waxay keentay in dacwad lagu oogo oo wax ku ool ah lagu soo rogo ganaax dhan $396,000, taasoo caqabad ku ah hawlaha kallumaysiga sharci darrada ah ee mustaqbalka.Waxaa mahad leh tababarka ay bixisay UNODC, SPF-DCG, MFBE iyo xeer ilaaliyayaal ka socday xafiiska xeer ilaaliyaha guud ayaa la qalabeeyay si loo ogaado khataraha dag daga ah  iyo ilaalinta xeebaha Soomaaliya.

Mabaadiida iyo tallaabooyinka lagu taliyey ee shirka ka so baxay waxay u hogaansameen SDG 14 iyo sii wadida himilooyinkeeda ilaalinta  joogtada ah ee isticmaalka baddaha iyo kheyraadka badda.Intaa waxaa dheer,waxay sidoo kale la jaanqaadaysa Hiigsiga israatiijiyadeed ee UNODC ee Afrika 2030 ee kor u qaadista hurumar waara iyo ilaalinta kheyraadka dabiiciga ah ee Afrika.

Wixii macluumaad dheeraad ah, fadlan la xiriir:

Mr. David O’Connell (David.OConnell@un.org)

Agaasimaha Barnaamijka Badweynta Hindiya

Barnaamijka Dambiyada Badaha Caalamiga ah

Xafiiska Qaramada Midoobay u qaabilsan daroogada iyo dambiyada

Riix halkan si aad u booqato websaydka barnaamijka dambiyada badaha caalamiga ah ee UNODC.