Appeals court in Mogadishu upholds verdict against illegal fishermen

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: The Court of Appeal in Mogadishu has upheld a verdict against 36 foreign nationals who were accused of illegal fishing in Somali waters.

The Court refused to overturn the ruling of the Banaadir Regional Court which fined the fishermen $11,000 each amounting to $$396,000. The court also upheld the decision to seize two boats which were used in the illegal activity.

The lower court had also imposed a $30,000 fine on the fishermen for a similar offence committed in November 2022. According to court documents, authorities seized 24,850 tons of fish caught by the fishermen.

The 36 foreign fishermen were arrested in April this year. The fishermen are of Iranian and Pakistani origin.