Mineral industry of Somalia

Somalia has the longest coastline in Africa.{{Cite journal |last=Carbone |first=Federico |last2=Accordi |first2=Giovanni |date=2000-01-01 |title=The Indian Ocean Coast of Somalia |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X00001077 |journal=Marine Pollution Bulletin |series=Seas at the Millennium: an Environmental Evaluation |volume=41 |issue=1 |pages=141–159 |doi=10.1016/S0025-326X(00)00107-7 |issn=0025-326X}} During the [[Monsoon|summer monsoon]], the Somali region undergoes a significant [[upwelling]] phenomenon that enhances plankton productivity, thereby benefiting fisheries. Wind and coastal dynamics initially drive this upwelling, but eventually [[Eddy (fluid dynamics)|eddy flows]] influence it.{{Cite journal |last=Kumar |first=Jai |last2=Ratheesh |first2=Smitha |last3=Agarwal |first3=Neeraj |last4=Sharma |first4=Rashmi |date=2024-08-01 |title=Study of upwelling and mixing process in the Somali coastal region using satellite and numerical model observations: A Lagrangian approach |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0967064524000250 |journal=Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography |volume=216 |pages=105381 |doi=10.1016/j.dsr2.2024.105381 |issn=0967-0645}} The Somali upwelling is the 5th largest upwelling globally, due to this phenomenon, millions of tons of migratory fish species enter Somali waters each year, making them one of the most profitable fishing grounds in Africa.{{Cite web |last=satg |date=2016-09-01 |title=Fishery in Somalia |url=https://satg.org/fishery-in-somalia/ |access-date=2025-11-20 |website=SATG {{!}} Somali Agriculture Technical Group |language=en-US}}{{Cite journal |last=Jebri |first=Fatma |last2=Srokosz |first2=Meric |last3=Raitsos |first3=Dionysios E. |last4=Jacobs |first4=Zoe L. |last5=Sanchez-Franks |first5=Alejandra |last6=Popova |first6=Ekaterina |date=2024-01-06 |title=Absence of the Great Whirl giant ocean vortex abates productivity in the Somali upwelling region |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-023-01183-9 |journal=Communications Earth & Environment |language=en |volume=5 |issue=1 |pages=20 |doi=10.1038/s43247-023-01183-9 |issn=2662-4435}}

Somalia has the longest coastline in Africa.{{Cite journal |last=Carbone |first=Federico |last2=Accordi |first2=Giovanni |date=2000-01-01 |title=The Indian Ocean Coast of Somalia |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X00001077 |journal=Marine Pollution Bulletin |series=Seas at the Millennium: an Environmental Evaluation |volume=41 |issue=1 |pages=141–159 |doi=10.1016/S0025-326X(00)00107-7 |issn=0025-326X}} During the [[Monsoon|summer monsoon]], the Somali region undergoes a significant [[upwelling]] phenomenon that enhances plankton productivity, thereby benefiting fisheries. Wind and coastal dynamics initially drive this upwelling, but eventually [[Eddy (fluid dynamics)|eddy flows]] influence it.{{Cite journal |last=Kumar |first=Jai |last2=Ratheesh |first2=Smitha |last3=Agarwal |first3=Neeraj |last4=Sharma |first4=Rashmi |date=2024-08-01 |title=Study of upwelling and mixing process in the Somali coastal region using satellite and numerical model observations: A Lagrangian approach |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0967064524000250 |journal=Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography |volume=216 |pages=105381 |doi=10.1016/j.dsr2.2024.105381 |issn=0967-0645}} The Somali upwelling is the 5th largest upwelling globally, due to this phenomenon, millions of tons of migratory fish species enter Somali waters each year, making them one of the most profitable fishing grounds in Africa.{{Cite web |last=satg |date=2016-09-01 |title=Fishery in Somalia |url=https://satg.org/fishery-in-somalia/ |access-date=2025-11-20 |website=SATG {{!}} Somali Agriculture Technical Group |language=en-US}}{{Cite journal |last=Jebri |first=Fatma |last2=Srokosz |first2=Meric |last3=Raitsos |first3=Dionysios E. |last4=Jacobs |first4=Zoe L. |last5=Sanchez-Franks |first5=Alejandra |last6=Popova |first6=Ekaterina |date=2024-01-06 |title=Absence of the Great Whirl giant ocean vortex abates productivity in the Somali upwelling region |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-023-01183-9 |journal=Communications Earth & Environment |language=en |volume=5 |issue=1 |pages=20 |doi=10.1038/s43247-023-01183-9 |issn=2662-4435}}

A 2015 study found that Somali fishermen earn about $8700 a year in Somaliland, $7900 in Puntland, and around $8400 in the rest of Somalia.{{Cite web |title=Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing in the Territorial Waters of Somalia, 2015 |url=https://www.crc.uri.edu/download/SOM14_finalreport.pdf |website=Adeso}} Local fishermen’s incomes increased by up to 400% from around 2013 to 2018.{{Cite web |title=https://fcwc-fish.org/somalia-fairfishing-turning-pirates-into-fishermen/ |url=https://fcwc-fish.org/somalia-fairfishing-turning-pirates-into-fishermen/ |access-date=2025-11-21 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=SDRB |date=2025-03-12 |title=Somalia's Fisheries Sector: A Primer on the Sector |url=https://sdrb.gov.so/somalias-fisheries-sector/ |access-date=2025-11-21 |website=The Somali Development and Reconstruction Bank |language=en-US}} Experts estimate that the industry could be worth up to $2 billion annually.{{Cite web |title=Somalia looks to tap $2b fisheries economy with new policy - The EastAfrican |url=https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/news/east-africa/somalia-looks-to-tap-2b-fisheries-economy-with-new-policy-4800534 |access-date=2025-11-20 |website=www.theeastafrican.co.ke}}{{Cite web |title=TRT Afrika - Türkiye-Somalia to cooperate in major investment to unlock Somalia's fisheries potential |url=https://www.trtafrika.com/english/article/aa6c5516799d |access-date=2025-11-20 |website=www.trtafrika.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Team |first=Digital |date=2024-10-24 |title=Somalia Looks to Tap $2 Billion Fisheries Economy with New Policy - Serrari Group |url=https://serrarigroup.com/somalia-looks-to-tap-2-billion-fisheries-economy-with-new-policy/ |access-date=2025-11-20 |language=en-US}} However, the current value of the domestic fisheries sector remains relatively modest at around $135 million per year, while [[Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing|illegal unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing]] is estimated to cost Somalia approximately $306 million annually.{{Cite web |last=Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy |title=Somali Sustainable Fisheries and Blue Economy Development Project – Badmaal (P178032) |url=https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/099091824151533029/pdf/P1780321ac1e52027185a11784d181ab0ed.pdf |website=World Bank}}

A 2015 study found that Somali fishermen earn about $8700 a year in Somaliland, $7900 in Puntland, and around $8400 in the rest of Somalia. name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing in the Territorial Waters of Somalia, 2015 |url=https://www.crc.uri.edu/download/SOM14_finalreport.pdf |website=Adeso}} Local fishermen’s incomes increased by up to 400% from around 2013 to 2018. The monthly average income for boat owners had risen from $264 in 2012 to $1,288 in 2018.{{Cite web |title=Turning pirates into fishermen |url=https://fcwc-fish.org/somalia-fairfishing-turning-pirates-into-fishermen/ |access-date=2025-11-21 |language=en-US|last=FCWC-Fish}}{{Cite web |last=SDRB |date=2025-03-12 |title=Somalia's Fisheries Sector: A Primer on the Sector |url=https://sdrb.gov.so/somalias-fisheries-sector/ |access-date=2025-11-21 |website=The Somali Development and Reconstruction Bank |language=en-US}} Experts estimate that the industry could be worth up to $2 billion annually.{{Cite web |title=Somalia looks to tap $2b fisheries economy with new policy - The EastAfrican |url=https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/news/east-africa/somalia-looks-to-tap-2b-fisheries-economy-with-new-policy-4800534 |access-date=2025-11-20 |website=www.theeastafrican.co.ke}}{{Cite web |title=TRT Afrika - Türkiye-Somalia to cooperate in major investment to unlock Somalia's fisheries potential |url=https://www.trtafrika.com/english/article/aa6c5516799d |access-date=2025-11-20 |website=www.trtafrika.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Team |first=Digital |date=2024-10-24 |title=Somalia Looks to Tap $2 Billion Fisheries Economy with New Policy - Serrari Group |url=https://serrarigroup.com/somalia-looks-to-tap-2-billion-fisheries-economy-with-new-policy/ |access-date=2025-11-20 |language=en-US}} By 2024 the value of the domestic fisheries sector remained modest at around $135 million per year.{{Cite web |last=Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy |title=Somali Sustainable Fisheries and Blue Economy Development Project – Badmaal (P178032) |url=https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/099091824151533029/pdf/P1780321ac1e52027185a11784d181ab0ed.pdf |website=World Bank}}> However this number may not be accurate as most locally caught fish is not recorded and presumptions about underexploited stocks must be viewed with suspicion.>

Somalia looses hundreds of millions to [[Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing|illegal unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing]] annualy. A 2005 estimate reported $100 million in loses, while a 2009 estimate reached $450 million. In addition to revenue loss, illegal fishing vessels, mostly [[Fishing trawler|trawlers]], cause [[overfishing]], reducing fish stocks, affecting local catches, and harm marine environment. The operation of these illegal fishing vessels affect the import and export markets as they stop legal local catches from being exported, a study on the impact of IUU fishing on Somalia’s GDP concluded that eliminating it would increase Somalia’s GDP from 4 to 6 percent. Fishermen in [[Puntland]] are the most affected by IUU fishing.

== Challenges ==

== Challenges ==