The maritime administration of the Puntland State has arrested 27 Yemeni fishermen, including one Somali, while their boat was illegally fishing in the waters of Puntland.
The fishermen were accused of violating the fishing law, and the Puntland Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources indicated that the boat, named “Maimon 1”, belongs to the Yemeni government.
The boat and the fishermen on board were seized by the coast guard in the Ras Asir region on the 14th of this month using a method known as “Hawi”, which is prohibited by Puntland law.
The news added that the boat did not have an official representative registered with the ministry, which is another violation of Puntland’s laws and regulations.
The press release noted that the Yemeni embassy in Mogadishu has been notified, along with other relevant authorities.
The ministry confirmed that the boat is still detained, and is set to be brought before the first instance court in the Baargaal district this week to take the necessary legal action.
For its part, the General Authority for Fisheries in the Arabian Sea, yesterday said that it is in constant contact with relevant Somali institutions, in accordance with the instructions issued by the Regional Administration of Hadhramaut Region, to follow up on this case and work towards the release of the fishermen.
