Turkey’s OYAK group and Somalia’s Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy signed a strategic cooperation and services agreement Tuesday aimed at regulating and expanding fishing activities in Somali waters.
The signing ceremony at OYAK headquarters was attended by Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler, Somali Ports and Maritime Transport Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, Somali Fisheries Minister Ahmed Hassan Aden, Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen. Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu, OYAK Chairman Zekai Aksakallı and OYAK Director General Murat Yalçıntaş.
Under the agreement, a joint company called SOMTURK will oversee licensing for all fishing operations in Somalia’s exclusive economic zone. Fishing permits in Somali territorial waters will be issued solely by SOMTURK.
Officials said the deal will allow sustainable use of Somalia’s rich marine resources while giving Turkish fisheries access to one of the world’s most abundant reserves. It also aims to boost employment, strengthen the local economy and ensure added value benefits Somali communities.