News – Yemen: The Ministry of Fisheries condemned the aggressive campaign launched by the US-Saudi aggression against fishermen, dredging fish and marine life using internationally prohibited tools on the coasts of the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

The ministry confirmed, in a statement issued, Thursday, that the ships of aggression continue to fish and unjustly gather fish, and attack Yemeni fishermen and prevent them from fishing in Yemeni waters in the Gulf of Aden.

The ministry explained that it had received reports from the Fisheries Authority and cooperative societies in the Gulf of Aden that fishermen were subjected to harassment and continuous attacks by the forces of aggression and occupation under the pretext of protecting their commercial and oil ships, noting that the aim of this was to allow the ships of aggression to pollute the marine environment and plunder oil and fish wealth.

The ministry called on the free people of the southern governorates to stand together to expel the occupation forces and protect the territorial waters from blatant interference and attacks that harm fishing and fishermen.

The statement called on the United Nations and the international community to intervene to stop this aggression against fish wealth and aquatic life, to hold the perpetrators of these crimes accountable, and to compensate the fishermen and the affected families.

Fisheries constitute one of the pillars of economic development in Yemen due to its renewable resources that contribute to the sustainability of the gross domestic product. It provides job opportunities for thousands of Yemenis, in addition to the productive and service activities related to this vital and strategic sector, which generates revenues to support the economic and social development in Yemen.

The countries involved in the aggression deliberately target the fish and marine sector in Yemen as part of their tendencies to extend and control Yemen's ports and islands and control its coasts and beaches.

The targeting methods consisted of bombing fishing boats and fishing landing centers, in addition to confiscating boats in the coastal areas that they controlled. They prevent the practice of fishing in many areas designated for years for fishing, in addition to dredging, looting and tampering with marine resources.