The Status of Billfish Populations in Somalia: Challenges and Opportunities for Conservation and Management

the status of billfish populations in Somalia. The study found that billfish are not a target
species in Somali waters, but that their populations have declined globally by an estimated 20%
in the past 20 years due to overfishing, habitat loss, and climate change. Somalia has the
longest coastline in Africa and an Exclusive Economic Zone of 1,165,500 km2, with the potential
to sustainably increase employment, food security, nutrition, and revenues from its fisheries.
However, Somalia's fisheries management is currently precarious.

The study identified several challenges that need to be addressed to effectively manage and
conserve billfish populations in Somalia. These challenges include unrealistic perceptions about
billfish, a scarcity of professionals with the necessary skills and knowledge, sectarianism in
state-based divided territories, isolation of organizational structures, and fragmentation of
international donors.
the Ministry of Fisheries & Blue Economy and the Save the Ocean Foundation should
collaborate to develop a comprehensive plan for the management and conservation of billfish
populations in Somalia. This plan should address the challenges identified in the study and
ensure that billfish populations are sustainably managed for the benefit of the people of
Somalia and the world.