MOGADISHU, Somalia – After nearly two months behind bars, seven Yemeni fishermen arrested in Somalia’s Puntland region have been released, following a wave of diplomatic pressure and a formal pardon.
The men were captured on May 14 near Ras Asir after their boat was intercepted by Puntland’s coast guard for entering Somali waters without authorization. Authorities accused the crew of using the outlawed “Hawi” fishing method, an environmentally destructive technique banned under Puntland’s marine laws.
“This is a clear breach of Puntland’s fisheries law. The boat and its crew did not comply with the required legal and regulatory protocols,” said the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources at the time of the arrest.
Despite facing multiple violations, including the lack of a registered representative in Puntland—the fishermen were granted a pardon following negotiations between Yemeni and Somali officials.
Their release was confirmed in an official letter signed by Puntland’s Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Mahmoud Mohamed Ali, citing “the historical and brotherly relations between the Somali and Yemeni peoples.”
The pardon followed a formal request from the Yemeni Embassy in Mogadishu, supported by letters from the Yemeni government. The appeal was directed to Puntland’s top judicial and regional authorities, including the President of the Court of Appeals in Bargal and the Judge of Ras Asir.
However, while the crew was released, their vessel was not. The Puntland government has seized the boat, citing its use of the banned “Hawi” technique—known for its harmful impact on marine ecosystems.
This is the second such case in recent weeks. Earlier this month, Puntland authorities released 26 other Yemeni fishermen who had also been caught fishing illegally in Somali waters.
Following the back-to-back releases, the Yemeni Embassy issued a warning to its nationals: stay out of Somali waters unless you’re fully licensed.
“All fishing activities in Somali maritime zones must be properly licensed to avoid arrest or prosecution by Somali authorities,” the embassy said in a public statement.
Puntland, meanwhile, continues to patrol its coastline with a firm hand, vowing to crack down on illegal fishing to protect its marine resources. Officials have urged foreign fishermen to follow proper procedures, or face the consequences.
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