FISHING SECTOR IN PUNTLAND
Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 11:46 am
Fishing
The proportion of Somalia's 3,300km long coastline attributable to the
State of Puntland is approximately 1,300km2 extending from Gara’ad on the Indian
Ocean side, to Laaso Surad on the Gulf of Aden. The waters of which incidentally constitute the richest fish habitats in the region.
Fish is second to livestock in terms of foreign exchange earner in Puntland. The fish population in Puntland’s coastal waters varies in diversity and density. It is known that the prevalent species are large pelagic varieties such as;
•Yellow fin tuna,
•Long-tail tuna,
•Bonito,
•skipjack,
•Spanish mackerel,
•The main commercial de-mersel fish are:
•Groupers,
•Snappers, grout
•Sea beam.
Puntland marine resources are untapped, FAO estimates an abundance of fish in the national waters and that a maximum sustainable yield of tones of fish could be harvested without endangering the stocks. Currently the estimate fish production is low compared to the potential and the demand in the international market. The shark fishing industry is the mainstay of the artisan fishing community in Puntland and more than 90% of the fishing fleet hunts for sharks for their valuable fins. In Bossaso and nearby fishing zones a sizeable yield of sea cucumbers reaching several tonnes per year is harvested. Furthermore, edible crabs and shrimps are caught in Bossaso and some of it are locally consumed and the surplus exported to Middle East.
Large populations of shark and ray are also registered. Shark fin is the most valuable Sea food products exported by the fish industry and it generates over one million US Dollar foreign exchange earner annually in Puntland and . Major importers of the shark fins from Puntland are Dubai, Honk Kong, and Singapore. Commercial populations of inshore spiny lobster, genus panulirus, and offshore types of Puerulus Sewell and Puerulus Carinatus are found at depths of 150-400 meters. The abundance of marine resources, characteristic of Puntland’s coastal zones by virtue of its geographical location, has also exposed Puntland’s marine resources to susceptible risks of deterioration. These risks are attributable to factors such as an existing marine transport network, over-harvesting carried out by illegal foreign drawlers and increased fishing efforts of the local people of Puntland.
Common species
The reefs fish diversity was found to be extremely high and comparable to the healthiest reefs in the Indian Ocean and red sea.The crustacean is another important fauna in Puntland such as lobsters, the spinners, the bottle nose and humpback.
Dolphins
Schools of dolphins of 1500-1800 individuals were sighted in Somalia. These were mainly bottle nose humpback spotted spinners and common dolphins.
Turtles
The highest record of the turtle was 3-9 nests/km in Sa’adin Island. This may be related to the existence of coral reefs and algae beds, the favourable habitat of the turtle. Surveys indicate that two families namely chelonidaeb and demolonidea form the bulk of the turtle populations. Chelonidea seams to be the most abundant. One single logger head turtle was sighted in sea by IUCN survey team.
Sharks
It is estimated that shark constitutes 40% of exploitable fish resources in Somali waters, neck fish project recorded in two years of research, 30 species of sharks from eleven families carcharhinidea family seems to be the most abundant followed by sphyrnidea.
A Swedish study of the Somali marine stated that a potential of 100,000mt of fish are available in Somali coast along the Gulf of Aden. The general diverse species and the preserve of large schools of fish are indicative of relatively unexploited marine resources.
Economic significance
Fisheries when measured in terms of macro-economic significances it is considered to be a relatively important sector within the national economy and it contribution is believed to be high. Artisan fishing accounts for more than 90% of the total catch and is restricted to the coastal zone and it operates from numerous small coastal fishing vessels, using gillnet, hand lines and trolling.
Over 100 motorized boats of varying size are engaged in the fish production.
Over 500 fulltime fishermen are estimated to be utilizing the coastal resources. Unknown number of large and more efficient foreign vessels is also known to fish illegally in the area.
Investment opportunities.
Fishing has a promising future development and the potential to become one of the Puntland’s foreign currency earners. However, investment required in the fish sector is huge and the capacity of the public and private sector in Puntland is not strong enough to undertake such demanding task therefore there is need to source for funds from foreign private commercial companies or to encouraged foreign investment.
Information pertaining to markets locally and internationally is important and must be availed in order to improve the sector. There is need to protect over harvesting of the fish to avoid depletion of the marine resource. The government must put in place an effective law that will stop illegal foreign vessels from infiltrating and harvesting fishes in Puntland territorial waters.
Challenges facing the fish sector
The following are the most important ones among many constraints:
•Poor enforcement in fisheries laws
•Poor planning, research and training
•Poor management of micro economic of fishing business
•Poor coordination between stakeholders and the ministry
•Lack of investments into the sector
•Economically weak public sector
•Absence of base infrastructures along the coast
•Insufficient information about the resources and the habitats
•Limited number of skilled personnel
•Lack of market information.
Fishing Companies
One of the three major exporters of the shark fin is a fishing company known as Ras Asayr Fishing General Trade Company. The company is privately owned by traders from Puntland. Ahmed Mohamed Isse, the General Manager handles the day to day running of the company business. Mohamed Ahmed Mohamud is the chairman. The company export shark meat to Mombassa in Kenya and shark fins to Dubai, Hong Kong and Singapore.
The company assist trader by providing information on quality requirements and market prices. The company is currently operating 40 fishing boats and 2 exporting ships with cooling systems. For a trader to invest in the fishing industry, there are document required from him or her such as certificate of origin from the Puntland chamber of commerce, certificate of health, export and import licenses. Companies exporting fish are required to pay certain taxes to the government ministries such as ministry of finance, ministry of fishing, ministry of livestock, and local government.
Abundance of phytoplankton and zooplankton suggests that Somalia has some of the continents major fishing stocks. Surveys indicate high potential for fisheries development with evenly distributed fish stocks along the entire coastline, but with greater concentration in the Northeast. This fishery review only covers Puntland State of Somalia jurisdiction over 800 km on the Indian Ocean and 500 km on the Gulf of Aden.
Institutions Public Mandate/working area
Ministry of Fisheries, Ports and Sea Transport
Control, conserve and protect marine resources.
Support artisanal and industrial fishery and assist existing fishery co-operatives.
Train and recruit new personnel within the public institutions supporting the fishery sector.
Develop and maintain port(s).
Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation
Provide overall coordination of the activities of all Puntland Ministries.
Collect and analyse statistics (including statistics on Fisheries livestock and frankincense).
Facilitate visas for foreign expatriates and other foreigners.
Cooperate with international and national organizations
Private
Necfish
Collaborate with artisan fisheries in the provision of ice from production site in Bossaso.
Fishery co-operative Ladan Mobilise artisan fisheries.
Barwaqo fishing company
Buy and sell fish products.
Establish fish market outlets.
Supply fish products in hinterland
IFBMP fishing boats maintenance professional association
Maintain fishery boats.
Renovate and rehabilitate default marine engines.
Train boat mechanics.
Profit making enterprise.
Las-Koreh tuna factory
Promote employment.
Mobilise local marine/ fisheries professionals.
Consult and advise fishery products traders.
Search reliable markets for Somali marine products.
SANURA professional/marine fisheries group
Bile Company- Shark fin/meat traders
Dhegig Shark fin trader
Buy and sell shark fins and meat.
Export marine products.
Buy and sell shark fins
Suudi Company Fishing gear and marine engine traders
Import and sell fishing gear and marine engine spare parts.
Other Institutions
PERSGA
3 Regional Organization for the conservation of the environmental of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
Assist the Ministry of Fishery and Port in the following sectors: MPA, LMR, ICZM and PAP
Provide Ministry of fisheries and other relevant organizations’ staff, with training in the above-mentioned sectors.
RMCO
Regional Marine Conservation Organisation
Conserve and plant mangrove trees
Conserve sea turtles.
Train fishery communities to conserve endangered marine SPP.
OTP
Ocean Training and Promotion
Shafici NGO
Support artisanal fisheries.
Train and support young fishermen.
Develop water infrastructure in remote coastal areas as well as urban areas.
Train Bossaso fishermen.
Provide boats and fishing gear.
The proportion of Somalia's 3,300km long coastline attributable to the
State of Puntland is approximately 1,300km2 extending from Gara’ad on the Indian
Ocean side, to Laaso Surad on the Gulf of Aden. The waters of which incidentally constitute the richest fish habitats in the region.
Fish is second to livestock in terms of foreign exchange earner in Puntland. The fish population in Puntland’s coastal waters varies in diversity and density. It is known that the prevalent species are large pelagic varieties such as;
•Yellow fin tuna,
•Long-tail tuna,
•Bonito,
•skipjack,
•Spanish mackerel,
•The main commercial de-mersel fish are:
•Groupers,
•Snappers, grout
•Sea beam.
Puntland marine resources are untapped, FAO estimates an abundance of fish in the national waters and that a maximum sustainable yield of tones of fish could be harvested without endangering the stocks. Currently the estimate fish production is low compared to the potential and the demand in the international market. The shark fishing industry is the mainstay of the artisan fishing community in Puntland and more than 90% of the fishing fleet hunts for sharks for their valuable fins. In Bossaso and nearby fishing zones a sizeable yield of sea cucumbers reaching several tonnes per year is harvested. Furthermore, edible crabs and shrimps are caught in Bossaso and some of it are locally consumed and the surplus exported to Middle East.
Large populations of shark and ray are also registered. Shark fin is the most valuable Sea food products exported by the fish industry and it generates over one million US Dollar foreign exchange earner annually in Puntland and . Major importers of the shark fins from Puntland are Dubai, Honk Kong, and Singapore. Commercial populations of inshore spiny lobster, genus panulirus, and offshore types of Puerulus Sewell and Puerulus Carinatus are found at depths of 150-400 meters. The abundance of marine resources, characteristic of Puntland’s coastal zones by virtue of its geographical location, has also exposed Puntland’s marine resources to susceptible risks of deterioration. These risks are attributable to factors such as an existing marine transport network, over-harvesting carried out by illegal foreign drawlers and increased fishing efforts of the local people of Puntland.
Common species
The reefs fish diversity was found to be extremely high and comparable to the healthiest reefs in the Indian Ocean and red sea.The crustacean is another important fauna in Puntland such as lobsters, the spinners, the bottle nose and humpback.
Dolphins
Schools of dolphins of 1500-1800 individuals were sighted in Somalia. These were mainly bottle nose humpback spotted spinners and common dolphins.
Turtles
The highest record of the turtle was 3-9 nests/km in Sa’adin Island. This may be related to the existence of coral reefs and algae beds, the favourable habitat of the turtle. Surveys indicate that two families namely chelonidaeb and demolonidea form the bulk of the turtle populations. Chelonidea seams to be the most abundant. One single logger head turtle was sighted in sea by IUCN survey team.
Sharks
It is estimated that shark constitutes 40% of exploitable fish resources in Somali waters, neck fish project recorded in two years of research, 30 species of sharks from eleven families carcharhinidea family seems to be the most abundant followed by sphyrnidea.
A Swedish study of the Somali marine stated that a potential of 100,000mt of fish are available in Somali coast along the Gulf of Aden. The general diverse species and the preserve of large schools of fish are indicative of relatively unexploited marine resources.
Economic significance
Fisheries when measured in terms of macro-economic significances it is considered to be a relatively important sector within the national economy and it contribution is believed to be high. Artisan fishing accounts for more than 90% of the total catch and is restricted to the coastal zone and it operates from numerous small coastal fishing vessels, using gillnet, hand lines and trolling.
Over 100 motorized boats of varying size are engaged in the fish production.
Over 500 fulltime fishermen are estimated to be utilizing the coastal resources. Unknown number of large and more efficient foreign vessels is also known to fish illegally in the area.
Investment opportunities.
Fishing has a promising future development and the potential to become one of the Puntland’s foreign currency earners. However, investment required in the fish sector is huge and the capacity of the public and private sector in Puntland is not strong enough to undertake such demanding task therefore there is need to source for funds from foreign private commercial companies or to encouraged foreign investment.
Information pertaining to markets locally and internationally is important and must be availed in order to improve the sector. There is need to protect over harvesting of the fish to avoid depletion of the marine resource. The government must put in place an effective law that will stop illegal foreign vessels from infiltrating and harvesting fishes in Puntland territorial waters.
Challenges facing the fish sector
The following are the most important ones among many constraints:
•Poor enforcement in fisheries laws
•Poor planning, research and training
•Poor management of micro economic of fishing business
•Poor coordination between stakeholders and the ministry
•Lack of investments into the sector
•Economically weak public sector
•Absence of base infrastructures along the coast
•Insufficient information about the resources and the habitats
•Limited number of skilled personnel
•Lack of market information.
Fishing Companies
One of the three major exporters of the shark fin is a fishing company known as Ras Asayr Fishing General Trade Company. The company is privately owned by traders from Puntland. Ahmed Mohamed Isse, the General Manager handles the day to day running of the company business. Mohamed Ahmed Mohamud is the chairman. The company export shark meat to Mombassa in Kenya and shark fins to Dubai, Hong Kong and Singapore.
The company assist trader by providing information on quality requirements and market prices. The company is currently operating 40 fishing boats and 2 exporting ships with cooling systems. For a trader to invest in the fishing industry, there are document required from him or her such as certificate of origin from the Puntland chamber of commerce, certificate of health, export and import licenses. Companies exporting fish are required to pay certain taxes to the government ministries such as ministry of finance, ministry of fishing, ministry of livestock, and local government.
Abundance of phytoplankton and zooplankton suggests that Somalia has some of the continents major fishing stocks. Surveys indicate high potential for fisheries development with evenly distributed fish stocks along the entire coastline, but with greater concentration in the Northeast. This fishery review only covers Puntland State of Somalia jurisdiction over 800 km on the Indian Ocean and 500 km on the Gulf of Aden.
Institutions Public Mandate/working area
Ministry of Fisheries, Ports and Sea Transport
Control, conserve and protect marine resources.
Support artisanal and industrial fishery and assist existing fishery co-operatives.
Train and recruit new personnel within the public institutions supporting the fishery sector.
Develop and maintain port(s).
Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation
Provide overall coordination of the activities of all Puntland Ministries.
Collect and analyse statistics (including statistics on Fisheries livestock and frankincense).
Facilitate visas for foreign expatriates and other foreigners.
Cooperate with international and national organizations
Private
Necfish
Collaborate with artisan fisheries in the provision of ice from production site in Bossaso.
Fishery co-operative Ladan Mobilise artisan fisheries.
Barwaqo fishing company
Buy and sell fish products.
Establish fish market outlets.
Supply fish products in hinterland
IFBMP fishing boats maintenance professional association
Maintain fishery boats.
Renovate and rehabilitate default marine engines.
Train boat mechanics.
Profit making enterprise.
Las-Koreh tuna factory
Promote employment.
Mobilise local marine/ fisheries professionals.
Consult and advise fishery products traders.
Search reliable markets for Somali marine products.
SANURA professional/marine fisheries group
Bile Company- Shark fin/meat traders
Dhegig Shark fin trader
Buy and sell shark fins and meat.
Export marine products.
Buy and sell shark fins
Suudi Company Fishing gear and marine engine traders
Import and sell fishing gear and marine engine spare parts.
Other Institutions
PERSGA
3 Regional Organization for the conservation of the environmental of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
Assist the Ministry of Fishery and Port in the following sectors: MPA, LMR, ICZM and PAP
Provide Ministry of fisheries and other relevant organizations’ staff, with training in the above-mentioned sectors.
RMCO
Regional Marine Conservation Organisation
Conserve and plant mangrove trees
Conserve sea turtles.
Train fishery communities to conserve endangered marine SPP.
OTP
Ocean Training and Promotion
Shafici NGO
Support artisanal fisheries.
Train and support young fishermen.
Develop water infrastructure in remote coastal areas as well as urban areas.
Train Bossaso fishermen.
Provide boats and fishing gear.
