Somalia

Somalia’s 3,333 kilometer coastline is the largest in mainland Africa and endows the country with considerable marine resources.  Its maritime zone possesses one of the most important large marine ecosystems—the Somali Current Marine Ecosystems—in the Indian Ocean. The country is also to numerous endemic species—i.e., species that can be found nowhere else in the world—including six types of birds, mammals, and reptiles. 

Somalia Map – Source: Somalia MEDA

The Republic of Somalia, located in the Horn of Africa, covers a total surface area of 637,657 km2 with an estimated population of 10 million people from six (6) major clans and various minor clans. The coastline of Somalia can be divided up into 5 zones characterised by diverse coastal features and ecosystems. Ecologically, the coast is split into two distinct zones: (i) the Gulf of Aden which encompasses the Somaliland and northern Puntland coastline, and (ii) the Indian Ocean coastline of northern Puntland and Central and South Somalia. The coastline covers a distance of 3,330 Km. The continental shelf area (depth 0–200 m) covers a surface area of 32,500 Km2 . The continental shelf is generally narrow being around 15km wide with a steep drop off into the deeper water. However, between Ras Aseyr and Ras Hafun in the north-east coast, the shelf extends for almost 80km in some places. (Source: Somalia MEDA)

The Somali marine ecosystem is rich in a diversity of living resources. Dynamic oceanographic features attract migratory tuna, billfishes, and sharks. Warm tropical waters nurture coral reef systems that are home to hundreds of species of marine life, and highly productive open waters support schooling pelagic creatures such as sardines and squid. Yet Somali domestic fisheries are significantly under-capitalized when compared with those of neighboring countries in East Africa. Development of the fishery sector during the 1980s stalled after Somalia’s civil war began in 1991, and the catch of marine life by domestic fleets has remained moderate ever since. Recently, interest in developing Somali fisheries has grown within multiple groups: fishers, entrepreneurs, and politicians within Somalia; expatriate communities outside Somalia and Somaliland; international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and development agencies; the global fishing industry; and venture capital firms specializing in frontier and emerging markets.

Coastal Livelihoods Assessment (Source: Somalia MEDA)

List of Publications on Somalia