Spanish tuna trawler with 36-member crew was hijacked by Somali Pirates today.

The ship Alakrana sent out distress signals advising of a pirate attack and since then its owner has not been able to communicate with it, said Echebastar Fleet, the firm that owns the ship.

Whilst it is sad that these men were hijacked, the BIG question is that what are they doing off the coast of Somalia? It clearly shows that Spanish fishermen are looting illegally from a poor country that can't patrol it's own borders. This theft is also some how supported by EU / NATO Navy which turn blind eye to large trawlers blundering natural resources and no regard to the environment.

In this case who is the criminal and who is the victim and who is getting military support?  It seems that Somali waters are accessible to all except Somali fishermen who can't make their meagre livelihood offshore or in-shore.

Tuna is over fished and is depleted in many waters.  The civil war in Somalia for past 18 years has somehow given Tuna a chance to thrive off the coast of Somalia.

With little fish stock around the world, shrewd fishing nations have started to reach off the coast of Africa and in particular countries with limited ability to patrol their own waters.

Having Spanish and Asian trawlers coming Somali waters to loot is morally and ethically wrong.  There is little compensation to local fishermen or support for nation building.  It seems that large scale fishing boats are quitely going about their business while 100km inland millions suffer.

What is the international community policy to enforce Somalia's territorial water rights and charge illegal fishers? I don't see the enforcement of these rules, as matter of fact world has turned back on Somalia and protecting the coast from illegal fishers and dumping of toxic waste.

Every navy seems to be patroling the coast of Somalia, the chinese, Indians, EU, Japan, South Korea, etc. but no one is either taking on illegal fishermen and illegal dumping or even helping to resolve humanitarian crisis.

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