The Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Fisheries, Major General Salem Al-Saqatri, reviewed the difficult conditions facing Yemen’s agriculture and fisheries sectors, which have been severely affected by the ongoing war and the political turmoil resulting from the Houthi militia coup and their seizure of state institutions.

He explained that these circumstances have led to a collapse in the infrastructure of both sectors, compounded by the effects of climate change, which has caused destruction and disrupted fishing activities at landing sites and during key fishing seasons. The minister highlighted that nearly 75% of Yemen’s population depends on agriculture and fisheries for their livelihoods, stressing their urgent need for sustained support.

Minister Al-Saqatri made these remarks during his participation—via video conference (Zoom)—in a session organized by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) under the title “The Fisheries Sector in Yemen and Its Role in Promoting Livelihoods, Food Security, and the Economy”, held in Amman, Jordan.

He emphasized the importance of donor intervention to revive the fisheries sector and enable it to fulfill its role in achieving food security and revitalizing the national economy—both locally and internationally.

The minister also discussed the priority needs for support, including the provision of fishing boats, rehabilitation of the fisheries infrastructure, establishment of modern fish laboratories, and strengthening research and training capacities to organize fishing operations across Yemen’s liberated governorates.

He further pointed to the importance of supporting the fish canning factory in Hadhramaut (Al-Ghuwaizi), which requires assistance to sustain production and withstand economic shocks. The minister called for European Union support to enhance the factory’s resilience and ensure its continued contribution to Yemen’s food security.

Major General Al-Saqatri also praised the successful cooperation with Germany in supporting fish landing centers and the fishing port in Aden, as well as the distribution of modern fishing boats to fishermen. He commended the German government’s ongoing support, expressing hope that the volume of projects under the framework of international cooperation between the two countries would increase in the coming period.

The discussions during the event focused on strengthening regulatory oversight, including training, capacity-building, and the provision of boats and tools that enhance fishermen’s productivity and promote sustainable use of marine resources. Participants also emphasized combating illegal and unregulated fishing, improving fisheries infrastructure and services to ensure product quality, and establishing cold storage facilities to balance seafood supply, especially during off-seasons.

Attention was also given to the development of fish laboratories to ensure quality control for fish products supplied to local markets, ensuring their safety for consumption. Furthermore, the discussions highlighted the empowerment of women as key contributors to household income—through training and supporting them in producing light, home-based fish products, as well as salt extraction, which contributes to food and health security.

Support for small-scale fishermen was also underscored, aiming to increase their productivity while reducing operational costs and promoting sustainable fishing practices.

Yemen’s Ambassador to Jordan, Jalal Faqirah, stressed the importance of the German government’s continued support, along with assistance from FAO and UNDP, to enhance agricultural and fisheries activities as vital contributors to local food security.

For his part, the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Yemen, Hubert Jäger, expressed his government’s willingness to expand and sustain cooperation with Yemen’s Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Fisheries, affirming the importance of providing increased support in all areas during the coming phase.

The session was also attended by Mohammed Awad Allan, Deputy Minister for Planning and Projects, Engineer Yeslam Saeed Bablghoom, Chairman of the General Authority for Fisheries in the Arabian Sea, Omar Salem Ba’awzeer, Director of the Al-Ghuwaizi Fish Canning Factory in Mukalla, as well as other officials from the Arabian Sea Fisheries Authority and representatives from GIZ and UNDP.