Panamanian vessel pays $65,000 fine to Somalia for illegal fishing

This demonstrates to international fishing community that Somalia is committed to protecting its natural resources- US ambassador to Somalia Stephen Schwartz

Greko 1 was arrested in Mogadishu in October for illegally fishing in Somali waters. Photo: PE Bergh, Stop Illegal Fishing

A foreign vessel which was arrested in Mogadishu October for fishing illegally in the country’s waters has paid a $65,000 fine to the Federal Government of Somalia.

The United States embassy said in a statement Wednesday the vessel from Panama had delivered the amount to the government following an inspection jointly by Somali and Kenyan authorities and subsequent determination of the fines.

“The owners of the Belize-registered, Panamanian-vessel were fined for illegal and unreported fishing in Somali waters and have paid an amount of $65,000 directly to the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS). The vessel is currently mooring in the Mombasa port and was detained in Mombasa until payment of the fine,” a statement from the US embassy said.

The vessel was detained in October this year in Mogadishu with an estimated 30 tons frozen fish but illegally departed the Somali waters and attempted to enter the Port of Mombasa where it was detained by Kenyan authorities upon intelligence from Somalia.

Following an inspection by the Federal Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources with the support by the international illegal fishing inspector FISH-i Africa, the vessel was found to be in possession of forged authorizations and licenses to operate in Somali waters and fishing within the 24 nautical miles of the coastline.

The vessel was also found guilty of not providing its catch reports and using banned fishing gear.

Somalia’s Fisheries Law 2014 prohibits foreign fishing vessels within the 24 nautical miles within its coastline to avoid encroaching on local fisherman. The law also prohibits the practice of bottom trawling.

Inspection of Greko 1 in Mogadishu Port. Lead officer was Capt Mohamud Hussein Moghe, Head of SHIFCO, the fisheries enforcement agency for FGS. Photo: PE Bergh, Stop Illegal Fishing.

US ambassador to Somalia Stephen Schwartz said the successful inspection and payment of the fine was a remarkable step in stopping illegal fishing in Somali waters and that it demonstrated the significance of inter-government cooperation.

“The United States Government congratulates the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) in their efforts to reduce illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in Somalia. The recent inspection of the Greko 1, and subsequent payment of the fine,” the envoy said, “Demonstrates to the international fishing community that Somalia is committed to protecting its natural resources.”

The strong coordination between the Federal Government of Somalia and the Kenyan authorities represents the pinnacle in international collaboration necessary to combat illegal activities, Schwartz noted. He also hailed efforts by Somalia’s Fisheries deputy minister Said Juma for ‘ensuring transparent and speedy resolution to this affair through the personal contacts he had developed through the Fish-i-Africa network’.

A report by the US based Secure Fisheries estimated in a report last year the annual catch by foreign vessels was 132, 000 metric tons while Somali artisanal catch was just 40,000 metric tons a year. This development, observers noted was a threat to the resurgence of piracy in the Indian Ocean waters which is currently at its all-time low.

FISH-i Africa approved Somalia’s application to membership early this year and its full membership is expected in the coming months. FISH-i Africa is group of African nations working to end illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the western Indian Ocean.