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Enforcing offshore fishing rules will benefit Somalia

Friday, January 24, 2020

Subject

Somalia’s fishery potential.

Significance

Somalia has a long coastline and seas abundant in much-sought-after tuna and other species, opening up a new economic portal for a country recovering from civil war. Its waters were recently inaccessible because of the prevalence of piracy, resulting in an untapped fishery market whose seas are becoming more secure for local and international vessels.

Impacts

  • Chinese deep-sea fishing off Somalia could pave the way for other nations to follow suit, helping Somalia return to the world stage.
  • China will have a stronger interest in preventing any return to Indian Ocean piracy.
  • If Chinese fishermen are seen to be flouting regulations, local tensions will rise and there could be retaliatory violence.
  • Since Somali per capita fish consumption is relatively low, the fisheries market will be export-oriented.

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