A Reuters investigation sheds light on the looting of fish wealth and its smuggling to Saudi Arabia

An investigation conducted by “Reuters” news agency confirmed that the looting of fish wealth in favor of the countries of the US-Saudi-Emirati aggression is behind the rise in fish prices in the occupied Aden governorate, indicating the complicity of the mercenary government in this crime, which Sana’a had warned of its consequences earlier.

The investigation, which was published in the middle of this week, quoted local sources, citizens, and fish dealers as saying that smuggling fish production to the Gulf countries, specifically Saudi Arabia, “is considered the most important factor behind the price increase.”

The investigation pointed out that the occupied governorate of Aden is witnessing a “major crisis in the supply of fish, with the disappearance of many varieties.”

Moreover, it explained that the prices of fish increased by 100%, and that the price of one kilogram reached 15 thousand riyals, which is equivalent to 12 US dollars, according to the exchange rates there.

Sanaa had warned on previous occasions of the looting and dredging of fish wealth practiced by the countries of aggression in Yemeni territorial waters, where foreign companies carry out illegal fishing operations through which they loot huge quantities of fish, while Yemeni fishermen are prevented from practicing their work, and sometimes are directly targeted along the Yemeni coasts.

The Reuters investigation indicated that the government of the mercenaries of aggression is complicit in the process of looting and smuggling fish, by opening the way for smugglers, in addition to not controlling prices in the market, as one of the fishermen confirmed to the agency that the merchants who take the quantities from the fishermen sell them to consumers at exaggerated prices.

The agency confirmed that citizens blame the mercenary government for the tragic situation in which they live, especially after the unprecedented spike in food and commodity prices, the rise of gas prices, the collapse of the local currency, and the inability to provide the “basic requirements of life.”

The investigation said: The high price of fish deprives many families of providing the daily main meal, which one of the citizens described as “a calamity that has hit the people of Aden and never witnessed before.”

Officials in the National Authority had previously called for the inclusion of foreign ships that plunder and dredge fish wealth in the list of “legitimate targets” for the armed forces, to impose a new equation for protecting this wealth, similar to the formula for protecting crude oil through which the armed forces were able to prevent the theft of oil revenues.

Earlier, Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein Al-Ezzi issued a warning to “ships that steal fish,” stressing that “they pose a threat to navigation,” adding that this will force Sanaa to target these ships. Al-Ezzi added that if the leadership decides to target these ships, “they will ignite at sea.”

Some coastal governorates under the control of the aggression coalition and its mercenaries, including Al-Mahrah, witnessed repeated protests by fishermen against the looting and dredging of fish wealth practiced by the countries of aggression and foreign companies operating under their cover in Yemeni territorial waters.

The plundering of fisheries is part of a broader plundering practiced by the countries of aggression of various national wealth, especially those located in the occupied territories.