Somali National Report to the Scientific Committee of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission
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Somali has the longest coastline in Africa (3,330km) and an EEZ of 1,165,500 Km2, there is potential to sustainably increase employment, food security, nutrition and revenues from its fisheries but there is currently
no unified fisheries management. The fishery resources in Somali waters are said to be one of the richest in the African continent. The marine fisheries can be further divided into offshore (conducted by foreign vessels), coastal or artisanal (limited to waters of the relatively narrow continental shelf, operated by traditional vessels and vessels with outboard/inboard engines) and Houri by traditional boats. The fishing seasons of Somali waters is governed by the monsoon winds that occur in the calendar year between May and September. In this period, high waves and strong winds force small and medium size commercial boats not to call at Somali ports. The fishing days of the artisanal fishery varies between 220-240 days per year while the offshore fishing vessels were forced to change their fishing ground, gear or target species.
Large pelagic species including tuna and tuna-like species such as yellow-fin, big-eye, skipjack, and mackerel are the most highly priced species locally. Although they are highly migratory, the traditional fishing grounds
for these species are found along the Indian Ocean from latitude 05 to 100 N due to upwelling that occurs twice annually in the period of southwest monsoons. It is also known that there are good fishing opportunities
in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean for tuna during the Southwest monsoon in the deeper waters. Besides, there is no MCS of the marine resources and centralize data collection system on marine products on
both inshore and offshore fisheries. Strengthen its capacity in development and implementation of central database along its coast for artisanal fishery is the key priority areas in Somalia.
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