Bosasso (RBC) Puntland President Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gaas has strongly condemned the illegal fishing and toxic dumping activities committed by foreign vessels on the Somali coast, RBC Radio reports.
President Abdiweli Gaas has described the illegal fishing as “national disaster” while calling the international community ti help eradicate this phenomenon.
“From today June 1st, Puntland recognizes the illegal fishing as national disaster, and we will use all mechanisms to fight against it,” President Gas said during a press conference in Bosasso, the commercial hub of Puntland.
The Sub-Saharan countries, including Somalia lose $1 billion each year in the illegal fishing while Somalia specifically loses about $300 million each year.
“Our forces and the coastguard unit will operate effectively to fight heavily against the illegal fishing,” President Gaas added.
Puntland, a northeastern state in Somalia also announced that it will take anyone found on illegal fishing, whether Somali or foreign to strict legal procedures to punish for this heinous crime against the people and its national resources.
The president’s state came as Puntland warned the foreign vessels looting the country’s sea resources while using the name of anti piracy mission as a cover.
RBC Radio