Kenya Fishermen See Upside To Pirates: More Fish

In a weird twist of fate, Somali pirates have helped Kenya’s fishing improve. The threat posed by these pirates in the western Indian Ocean has discouraged foreign vessels from fishing in the region. This sudden drop in fishing has allowed fish stocks to replenish – especially varieties that had all but disappeared such as red snapper and barracuda – providing Kenyan fisherman with better catches and hence an improved livelihood. Ironically, it was foreign vessels with modern gears engaged in overfishing in the region that led many Somali fishermen to take up piracy, according to some experts. On the other hand, the countries that lent support to fighting piracy also had large fishing vessels present in the region, often illegally. For now, Kenyan fishermen are happy with the result, even though they are sometimes harassed by the pirates too. But securing and protecting marine resources from being over-exploited remains an unsolved issue. – YaleGlobal