# Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy of Somalia: what it does

> What Somalia's federal fisheries ministry does: fishing licences, boat registration, the SOMTURK partnership, exports to China; who leads it; its budget 2025 to 2027; and what it reports doing.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/institutions/ministry-of-fisheries-and-blue-economy/
Last checked: 2026-11-12
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## What it does

The ministry describes its focus as "strengthening Somalia's blue economy through sustainable fisheries development, community empowerment, and inclusive growth" ([Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy](https://mfbe.gov.so)). It was earlier called the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources. Its main jobs:

- **Licences:** only the federal ministry may issue licences for fishing in Somalia's Exclusive Economic Zone. In March 2026 it issued Government Notice MFBE008 on licence and levy fees for foreign vessels ([MFBE, foreign fishing licences, March 2026](https://mfbe.gov.so/uploads/documents/1775368131_F-_Foreign_fishing_licenses_-March_2026__1_.pdf)). It has published standard procedures for licensing ([MFBE, licensing procedures](https://mfbe.gov.so/blog/2024/07/23/ministry-of-fisheries-and-blue-economy-standard-operating-procedures-for-fishing-vessel-licensing-and-guidelines-and-requirements-for-local-licensing/)).
- **Local fishers:** Somali fishers, businesses and boats register and get licences and certificates through its online Fisheries Services Portal ([MFBE](https://mfbe.gov.so)).
- **Foreign vessels:** **SOMTURK** is the ministry's exclusive service provider for foreign licensing, while the ministry keeps the power to regulate (same source). SOMTURK is a partnership with the Turkish group OYAK ([MFBE](https://mfbe.gov.so); [Dawan Africa](https://dawan.africa/news/somalia-turkeys-oyak-seal-lucrative-fisheries-deal)).
- **Training and markets:** it trains fishers in handling, processing and quality control (same source), and has worked on tariff-free fish exports to China ([The EastAfrican](https://theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/business-tech/somalia-to-export-fish-to-china-under-tariff-free-deal-5558546); [Dawan Africa](https://www.dawan.africa/news/somalia-to-exempt-fish-exporters-to-china-from-taxes)).

## Who leads it

Ahmed Hassan Aden is minister ([MFBE](https://mfbe.gov.so); [Dawan Africa, 26 October 2026](https://www.dawan.africa/news/somalia-seeks-fisheries-investment-as-national-fisheries-week-opens-in-mogadishu)).

## The money

From the federal budget ([Appropriation Act for 2027, as submitted](https://mof.gov.so/storage/documents/2026/11/xihvtskp/Appropriation%20Act%20for%202027%20Submitted%20to%20Parlement.pdf)):

| Line | 2025 actual (US$) | 2026 budget (US$) | 2027 proposed (US$) |
|---|---:|---:|---:|
| Ministry of Fisheries | 7,549,104 | 18,406,040 | 14,595,280 |
| Offshore Fisheries Development Project | 83,061 | 112,776 | 112,776 |

The World Bank's Somali Sustainable Fisheries Development Project pays for most of it: US$6.6 million in 2025 and US$13.1 million proposed for 2027. On the income side, **fishing licence fees** brought in US$535,000 in 2025; the budget expects US$5.29 million in 2026 and US$6.77 million in 2027 (same source).

## What it reports doing

- **Licences to Turkish vessels:** on 3 April 2026 it announced an international fishing licence for the Turkish vessel Ergun Reis A ([MFBE news](https://mfbe.gov.so/news.php)).
- **Ranking:** in September 2026 it said it ranked second among 12 economic-sector ministries in a government performance assessment (same source).
- **Fisheries Week:** it held the third National Fisheries Week in Mogadishu on 26 and 27 October 2026 ([Dawan Africa](https://www.dawan.africa/news/somalia-seeks-fisheries-investment-as-national-fisheries-week-opens-in-mogadishu)).
- **El Niño warning:** in October 2026 it ran awareness work for fishers ahead of the 2026 El Niño ([MFBE](https://mfbe.gov.so)).
- **Partners:** it set up joint fisheries committees with [Türkiye](/en/relations/turkey/) ([Dawan Africa](https://www.dawan.africa/news/somalia-turkiye-launch-fisheries-cooperation-committees)) and held talks with Italy ([Dawan Africa](https://www.dawan.africa/news/somalia-italy-discuss-fisheries-cooperation-in-rome)).

## Other records on fishing

Reports on foreign boats fishing without licences in Somali waters go back decades. A January 2026 report in ADF Magazine describes the damage illegal foreign fishing does to Somali fish stocks ([ADF Magazine, January 2026](https://adf-magazine.com/2026/01/illegal-fishing-by-foreign-vessels-decimates-somali-fish-stocks/)). [Puntland](/en/states/puntland/) runs its own campaign against illegal fishing ([AllAfrica, April 2026](https://allafrica.com/stories/202604220286.html)). See [Piracy off Somalia](/en/institutions/piracy-off-somalia/).

## Its legal basis

The Fisheries Law, the government notices it issues under that law, and its mandate from the Council of Ministers under the 2012 Provisional Constitution, as amended in 2024 and 2026.

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