According to the Puntland Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, the crew was captured on May 14, 2025, aboard the vessel Maimon 1, which is reportedly owned by the Yemeni government. The boat was intercepted near Ras Asir by the Puntland Coast Guard.
Officials say the crew was using a banned fishing technique known locally as “Hawi,” a method prohibited under Puntland’s fisheries legislation. In addition, the vessel had no registered local agent or coordination with the ministry, which is a legal requirement for foreign fishing vessels operating in Puntland’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
“This is a serious violation of Puntland’s maritime laws and sovereignty,” the ministry said in a statement. “We are committed to protecting our marine resources and enforcing legal accountability.”
Legal proceedings for the arrested individuals are set to begin this week at the Baargaal District First Instance Court. The crew remains in custody pending formal charges.
According to HO, The Yemeni embassy in Mogadishu has been notified, and Somali federal authorities have been briefed. Meanwhile, Yemen’s General Authority for Fisheries in the Arabian Sea, under the Hadhramaut administration, confirmed ongoing diplomatic efforts to secure the fishermen’s release and resolve the matter with Puntland officials.
The incident underscores increasing tensions over unregulated fishing along the Horn of Africa’s coastal waters, a region already grappling with maritime security and environmental concerns.