Fisheries in the ESA-IO Region - Profile and Trends - Somalia

Somalia has the longest coastline in Africa, measuring 3,330 km and claims an EEZ of some 830,389 km² (Per Erik Bergh. 2011). Its fishery resources are significant, with an estimated sustainable potential in the order of 200,000 MT per year for pelagic fish stocks, based on several fish surveys conducted in the 1970s and 1980s (FAO Fishery Country Profile. 2005).

Large pelagic species include mainly yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares), bigeye tuna (T. obesus), longtail tuna (T. tonggol), bonito (Sarda orientalis), skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis), and Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson); the seasonal variations in abundance are considerable, confirming the oceanic migratory pattern of these species (FAO. 2005). With regards to small pelagics, the dominant species are the Indian oil sardinella (Sardinella longiceps), rainbow sardine (Dussumieria acuta), Scads (Decaptrus spp), chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus), horse mackerel (Trachurus indicus), and lesser quantities of anchovies (Engraulis japonicus, Stolephorus spp). The main distribution area of these species is along the northeast coast. The small pelagic fish are scattered and there is no basis for fishery. However, their migrations, and that of straddling stocks, in and out of the national EEZ are unknown (FAO. 2005). Accessible stocks, for the artisanal fishing sector, along the coast are estimated at about 40,000 MT of large demersal species, and 30,000 MT of sharks and rays (FAO Fishery Country Profile). Demersal species make important contributions to the artisanal fisheries all along the Somali coast. Sharks and rays are caught mainly off the north coast, although in the southern part of the east coast they often represent 40 percent of the catch of artisanal fisheries (FAO. 2005).

This document was prepared as part of the activities of the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC)SmartFish Programme , under the FAO Fisheries management component, in the monitoring and analysis of major issues with implications for fisheries and aquaculture in the twenty countries from the Eastern Southern Africa-IOC region participating in the Programme. This has resulted in the preparation of twenty country baselines whose the purpose is to serve as easy-to-read and informative references for policy decisionmakers, fishery managers, development partners and stakeholders. The baselines inventory and describe for each country the trends in status of fisheries, major social and economic dynamics of relevance to the fishery sector, policy, legal and administrative frameworks, and management regimes The present document relates to the baseline for Somalia.