Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni has expressed concern about increasing trawling activities along the Puntland coast, highlighting the involvement of both foreign vessels and locally connected actors.
Speaking at a fisheries conference held in Bossaso, President Deni noted that a large portion of Puntland’s waters are being exploited. He pointed out that trawling is carried out not only by foreign vessels but also by ships licensed by the government that are not adequately monitored.
“The majority of Puntland’s waters are being trawled. There are trawlers, including those with government licenses that no one controls, as well as others without authorization. Among the troubling reports I hear is that many boats from Yemen and Iran engage in trawling, with Puntlanders acting as their local representatives,” President Deni stated.
The president’s comments come at a time when Puntland’s fishing communities have voiced strong concerns about the impact of trawling on marine resources and livelihoods.
