Suffering of Yemeni fishermen continues

SANA'A, April 25 (Saba) - Hardship of Yemeni fishermen continues
without intervention from the government as neighbor authorities
continue to seize Yemeni fishing boats and harass crews.

This time the Eritrean authorities intercepted a Yemeni fishing boat
while hunting in international waters in the Red Sea and seized a
five crew onboard, according to the Interior Ministry Information
Centre.

The boat with the crew were snatched to the Tai'o area in Eritrea
and as they arrived there the Eritrean authorities confiscated the
boat and fish aboard and then deported the Yemeni fishermen on
another boat to the Khukha area in Yemen's southern province of
Hudaida.

The security authorities are investigating.

In recent years, many Yemeni fishing boats were seized by neighbors
with fishermen onboard harassed.

Last month, dozens of Yemeni fishermen were released after Saudi,
Sudanese and Eritrean authorities held their boats while fishing in
the Red Sea.

In February, Eritrea freed 55 Yemeni fishermen who claimed they
were taken by force to an Eritrean island after the Eritrean
authorities seized their boats while fishing in international waters.

Despite accords between the two countries on not to attack each
other's fishing boats, during the last few months, many Yemeni
fishing boats were reported taken by the Eritrean authorities.

The Eritrean authorities usually release Yemeni fishermen after
confiscating their boats and fish they hunt.

Last year, hundreds of Yemeni fishermen were held by the Eritrean
authorities but until this moment Yemeni fishermen still wait for a
government action.