One year ago, @fisheriesSOM signed MoU with China Overseas Fisheries Association and granted 31 fishing licenses to fish inside Somali EEZ. This is ⬇️ what happens when greed, bad negotiation, corruption, and neocolonialism all meet together. I am not surprised sadly. (thread) /1
2018 no fishing vs 2019 Chinese scouring in Somali waters chasing tuna into their feeding grounds @fisheriesSOM officials said they fish only 3 months of tuna season. Fishing 10 months in a year what fishing season is that? Renewed for 2020!! Here I am proving them wrong #tech /2
You know what's worse than their bad decision?
Finding out that warlords used to generate more revenue from fishing licenses. They knew better they were selling their resources.
Licensing commercial fishing will be forever a shameful chapter in the current administration. /3
Finding out that warlords used to generate more revenue from fishing licenses. They knew better they were selling their resources.
Licensing commercial fishing will be forever a shameful chapter in the current administration. /3
It is officially domestic vs commercial with the same main target species. It's a case of a domestic fisheries sector that contributes US$135m annually to the local economy vs. large industrial fishing vessels with US$1m revenue. Generations will pay for it. /4
Key facts about Somali fisheries /5
Look at them: you can see the absence of mind.. /6
Sovereignty?! FGS allowed Chinese longliners to carry weapons on board. The MoU clearly shows.
Remember: when the same lawless tuna longliners murdered 3 Pakistani fishermen off the coast of Somalia preda.org/murder-at-sea-… This is concerning! /7
Remember: when the same lawless tuna longliners murdered 3 Pakistani fishermen off the coast of Somalia preda.org/murder-at-sea-… This is concerning! /7
I found seven out of the 31 licensed Chinese longliners were accused to fish illegally in Somali waters b/w 2015-2017. @fisheriesSOM filed a complaint through IOTC and now licensed.. incredibly fishy!
Source: FISH-i Africa fish-i-africa.org/wp-content/upl… /8
Source: FISH-i Africa fish-i-africa.org/wp-content/upl… /8
Former Minister of Fisheries Dr. Abdirahman told me that the planned licensing process was mismanaged after he left the office. I wanted to ask more about the MoU his reply was "The MoU for COFA is very clear and self explanatory" /9
Member of the Federal Parlament of Somalia and Chairman of the Natural Resources, Transport, Economy and Infrusturtre Committee Senator Ilyas Hassan @IlyasAliHassan blocked me on WhatsApp just because I shared my concerns with him /10
My thoughts on the current licensing system and process. /11
H.E. @mrbidhaan yes you are at the right place there in Oman. After our fish stocks are depleted by the Chinese, we will talk about rebuilding overfished stocks and aquaculture will be the answer. Again generations will pay for it. Think well!
Photo by @Ibnukaliil /12
Photo by @Ibnukaliil /12
