Yemen Monitor/Newsroom:
Al-Araby Al-Jadeed newspaper reported that the figures for the slipper lobster fishing season in Yemen’s Socotra archipelago show a disastrous situation for the fishing sector, as the production of the first day of the season decreased to 12 tons compared to 20 tons in previous years. This sharp decline indicates a serious depletion of this important economic resource.
Foreign companies, specifically the Emirati “Promar” company, control the fishing sector in Socotra and violate fishing regulations, exploiting the slipper lobster fishing period outside the specified season (April) or illegally extending its duration. This has led to the destruction of fishing sites and a significant decline in fish stocks, according to Mazen Abboud, a member of a fisheries association, speaking to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.
Fishermen, such as Hamdi Nasser and Ali bin Ghanem, confirmed in their statements to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that the quantity of slipper lobster currently extracted is much less than it was previously, even with government instructions that specified the fishing quantity. They point to the Emirati company’s control over the production and marketing of rare fish species, including slipper lobster.
Fishermen suffer from the scarcity of fishing grounds and the imposition of restrictions on them, while violations by foreign companies are overlooked. The island also suffers from conflict that affects the implementation of developmentprojects, including a fish stock assessment project funded by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), according to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.
The competent authorities in Socotra lack the necessary funding to establish an early warning room to protect fishermen and their equipment and preserve fish wealth, according to Mubarak Al-Koudi, a specialist in fisheries investment.
Heads of fisheries associations, during their meeting with the Yemeni Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Fisheries Wealth, called for the provision of funding for fisheries projects in Socotra, pointing to several problems threatening the sector, including illegal fishing and violation of regulations.
Economic analyst Najib Muhammad, in his statements to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, believes that the decrease in the quantity of slipper lobster highlights the economic importance of this resource, which requires strict regulation to limit illegal fishing.
