Report: Chinese Ships Dredging Marine Habitats in Yemen’s Waters

September 26 website, affiliated with the Yemeni Ministry of Defense, revealed on Sunday that Chinese ships are fishing and dredging marine habitats in Yemen’s waters.

The website stated that the Saudi-backed government recently allowed a Chinese fishing fleet to illegally fish in Yemen’s waters.

It mentioned that the Chinese fleet is equipped with advanced technology, fuel ships, fishing and transportation boats, and others for supply and camouflage. They are working on catching and dredging the stock of squid, fish, and marine organisms in Yemeni waters in the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Oman, and the Gulf of Aden.

Minister of Fisheries Mohammed Al-Zubairi said in a statement to September 26 that the illegal Chinese fishing operations pose a real threat to livelihoods and the fish stock because they cause the dredging of coral reefs and the death of quantities of fish and marine organisms.

Al-Zubairi warned of the danger of illegal Chinese fishing operations, which may lead to depriving Yemen of its resources and a sharp decline in fish population, reproduction, and some rare species in Yemen’s territorial waters.

He called for a sense of responsibility and vigilance before the destruction of fish wealth by the forces of aggression and Chinese presence.

The Minister of Fisheries pointed out that the Saudi-backed government has been working since the beginning of the aggression to sell and lease national wealth assets according to the plans of the countries involved in aggression, which have been looting all of Yemen’s resources for nine years, occupying and looting its marine and oil wealth, among others.

Fisheries constitute one of the pillars of economic development in Yemen due to its renewable resources that contribute to the sustainability of the gross domestic product. It provides job opportunities for thousands of Yemenis, in addition to the productive and service activities related to this vital and strategic sector, which generates revenues to support the economic and social development in Yemen.

The countries involved in the aggression deliberately target the fish and marine sector in Yemen as part of their tendencies to extend and control Yemen’s ports and islands and control its coasts and beaches.

The targeting methods consisted of bombing fishing boats and fishing landing centers, in addition to confiscating boats in the coastal areas that they controlled. They prevent the practice of fishing in many areas designated for years for fishing, in addition to dredging, looting and tampering with marine resources.