Federal government: ministries and agencies
Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy of Somalia: what it does
Somalia's federal Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy licenses fishing in Somalia's waters, registers fishing boats and sets fisheries policy. Ahmed Hassan Aden is minister. Foreign fishing licences now go through SOMTURK, a partnership with Türkiye's OYAK group, and fishing licence income in the budget rises from US$535,000 in 2025 to a planned US$6.8 million in 2027.
What it does
The ministry describes its focus as "strengthening Somalia's blue economy through sustainable fisheries development, community empowerment, and inclusive growth" (Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy). It was earlier called the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources. Its main jobs:
- Licences: only the federal ministry may issue licences for fishing in Somalia's Exclusive Economic Zone. In March 2026 it issued Government Notice MFBE008 on licence and levy fees for foreign vessels (MFBE, foreign fishing licences, March 2026). It has published standard procedures for licensing (MFBE, licensing procedures).
- Local fishers: Somali fishers, businesses and boats register and get licences and certificates through its online Fisheries Services Portal (MFBE).
- Foreign vessels: SOMTURK is the ministry's exclusive service provider for foreign licensing, while the ministry keeps the power to regulate (same source). SOMTURK is a partnership with the Turkish group OYAK (MFBE; Dawan Africa).
- Training and markets: it trains fishers in handling, processing and quality control (same source), and has worked on tariff-free fish exports to China (The EastAfrican; Dawan Africa).
Who leads it
Ahmed Hassan Aden is minister (MFBE; Dawan Africa, 26 October 2026).
The money
From the federal budget (Appropriation Act for 2027, as submitted):
| Line | 2025 actual (US$) | 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).
- 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).
- El Niño warning: in October 2026 it ran awareness work for fishers ahead of the 2026 El Niño (MFBE).
- Partners: it set up joint fisheries committees with Türkiye (Dawan Africa) and held talks with Italy (Dawan Africa).
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). Puntland runs its own campaign against illegal fishing (AllAfrica, April 2026). See 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.
Sources
- Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy · mfbe.gov.so
- MFBE, foreign fishing licences, March 2026 · mfbe.gov.so
- MFBE, licensing procedures · mfbe.gov.so
- Dawan Africa · dawan.africa
- The EastAfrican · theeastafrican.co.ke
- Dawan Africa · dawan.africa
- Dawan Africa, 26 October 2026 · dawan.africa
- Appropriation Act for 2027, as submitted · mof.gov.so
- MFBE news · mfbe.gov.so
- Dawan Africa · dawan.africa
- Dawan Africa · dawan.africa
- ADF Magazine, January 2026 · adf-magazine.com
- AllAfrica, April 2026 · allafrica.com
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Where this matters
Same era
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- Birmingham (Somali diaspora)About 17,000 to 21,600 Somalis live in Birmingham (Census 2021), mostly in Nechells, Newtown, Small Heath and Alum Rock. History, work, health and ties home.
- Bristol (Somali diaspora)9,167 people in Bristol identified as Somali or Somalilander in Census 2021, the city's largest minority group. Where they live, work, housing, leaders and ties home.
- Calgary, Alberta, Canada2,845 people of Somali origin lived in Calgary at the 2021 Census, plus 890 in Brooks. How they came, who serves them and what they face.
- Denmark (Somali diaspora)21,885 people of Somali origin lived in Denmark in 2026, half born there. Numbers, history, work, permit reviews, and ties home.
- DjiboutiAbout 13,900 refugees from Somalia live in Djibouti (Aug 2026): numbers since 1990, Ali Addeh, Holl-Holl, the 2017 refugee law, Arta 2000 and 2025 returns.
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- The Federal Government of Somalia: how it is organisedHow Somalia's federal government is built: its history since 2012, its branches, ministries, agencies and independent offices, how it relates to the member states, its staff and budget, and where to find each part.
- Somalia's federal government: the President, the Prime Minister and the Council of MinistersHow Somalia's federal executive works: the President's powers, the Prime Minister, the Council of Ministers, the list of ministries, and presidents since 1960.
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