The Spanish Minister for Defense, Carmen Chacón, highlighted on Monday that the presence of private security forces onboard Spanish fishing boats operating off the coast of Somalia has been positive, underlining how it has shown itself to be a decisive factor in ensuring the protection of the 27 fishing boats operated by Spanish companies in the waters off Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden
Carmen Chacón met with representatives of the two Spanish tuna purse seiner owners (OPAGAG and ANABAC-OPTUC) to assess the effectiveness of the reinforced security force deployed by Operation Atalanta following the end of the monsoon season and to take stock of the self-protection measures put in place a year ago to protect the fishing boats operating in the Indian Ocean, such as private onboard security.
In this regard, the Minister highlighted the importance of expanding the mandate of Operation Atalanta through the implementation of a security force to better control the bases and ports that the pirates are operating from, the so-called 'Focus Operation'. She indicated that this has multiplied by five the number of alleged pirates to be arrested (now 1,000) and has destroyed more than 100 skiffs and 20 supply vessels.
Furthermore, she recalled that Spain has boosted navy operations in the area during these months with an increased risk of attack through the presence of the amphibious ship 'Galicia' and the patrol boat 'Infanta Cristina'. Carmen Chacón indicated that the ship-owners' associations expressed their gratitude for the additional deployment, which they themselves had requested at a previous meeting.
This force is complemented by the specific monitoring of Spanish fishing boats undertaken by the Spanish Navy through its Maritime Operation and Surveillance Centre (COVAM in Spanish) and the military resources deployed in the region, which enable the tuna fishing boats to be located at all times and provide better coordination when they need to be protected.
Self-protection measures
The Minister for Defense also indicated that the legislative changes to enable fishermen to incorporate private security forces onto their boats and to enable those agents to use military weapons were approved a little under a year ago. In this regard, she underlined that of the 16 boats that have currently been hijacked in the Indian Ocean, none had a private security force onboard when they were attacked.
In any case, Carmen Chacón warned that 100% security does not exist because these are the most dangerous waters in the world and, therefore, "warning systems must be kept operational at all times".
Meeting with the President of Somalia
The Minister for Defense also held a meeting on Monday morning with the President of the Federal Transition Government of Somalia, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, with whom she analyzed the situation in the African country and the initiatives necessary for a minimum level of stability to be regained.
In this regard, the President of Somalia personally expressed his gratitude for the efforts being made by Spain in his country and specifically for the work being undertaken by the Spanish military, together with another 13 EU countries, on training the Security Forces of Somalia through the EUTM-Somalia mission in Uganda.
Over the next few days, the first stage of that mission will conclude and the training of the first 1,000 officers will have come to an end. The second stage for the training of a further 1,000 officers will start in one month's time.
Finally, the Minister stated that she asked the Somali President for the security forces of his country to also undertake action to monitor its coastline so that steps can be taken to counteract piracy from the ports and beaches of Somalia.
