thefluidaffect

Support Piracy in Somalia

Absurd. Ridiculous. Environmentally conscious. The idea of supporting poor, armed men as they harass and forcibly take over multinational ships in their waters off the African coast may be all three. Different news sources have pointed out the possibility that piracy from Somalia may be responsible for an increase in fish in the Indian Ocean. With piracy an issue, massive fishing vessels from Spain, Portugal, and Japan are unable to safely over-fish, and fish stocks are slowly replenishing. As a result, local fisherman are once again able to support themselves and their local communities with sustainable catches from their small, traditional fleets (Straziuso). Thus, a contradictory yet familiar scenario seems to develop that pits humanitarian ideals against environmental ones. However, the ideological schism between humanity and the environment is erroneously placed because as we all know, our environment is truly all that supports our humanity.

One of the Somali pirates’ original positions was to stop illegal fishing in their waters (Hunter). Huge, massive trawlers from the rich world have been depleting the Indian Ocean for decades, leaving Somalia and neighboring Kenya (as well as many other poorer nations) with the inability to sustain their fishing culture. In a country constantly struggling with famine such as Somalia, such disrespectful taking of natural resources is nothing short of humanitarian negligence. Therefore, the pirates have not only succeeded in their original plan of thwarting overfishing but have also stuck it to the international community who truly cares nothing about their plight or their humanity.

The February 8th edition of the Economist suggests that conflict, where human interference in nature is taken out of the equation, is the cheapest and most effective form of conservation. I have to agree. The DMZ, a section of land without human interaction for the past sixty years here in Korea, is said to support life unknown in all of Asia. What this suggests is that only conflict seems to wield enough power to hinder corporate environmental destruction in a economical way. Thus, although we may find ourselves concerned, as humanitarians, with how conflict, such as the Somali pirates impose, impacts human life, we must take into account the fact that without an supportive environment, humanity ceases to exist and creates the initial conflict we are seeking to avoid.

So, do we support the pirates? As an environmentalist who believes in humanity, I may have to say, “Hayduke lives!”

Further Reading and Viewing:

• Video from Channel 4
  
• “Somali Pirates Disrupt Fishing Industry, Increase Fish Stocks” – Voice of America

I disagree with this news article. When have scientist really stopped overfishing? But here it is:

• “Somali Pirates Letting Illegal Fishing Run Wild?” – Discovery News