Iranian Fishermen to Gain Access to Mauritius and Madagascar Waters

TEHRAN (Iran News)Ataollah Raeisi, Deputy for Fishing and Fishing Ports at the Iran Fisheries Organization, outlined the country’s fishing capacity, saying around 168,000 fishermen are currently active in northern and southern Iran, operating some 20,300 vessels. These include 16,500 small boats, 3,000 traditional wooden vessels (lenj), and 132 fishing ships.

Providing the latest catch figures, Raeisi said average annual catches at northern and southern ports are estimated at about 778,000 tons for the year 1403 (2024/25). He noted that most southern vessels—particularly those from Sistan-Baluchestan and eastern Hormozgan—are engaged in offshore fishing in international waters.

“In previous years, fishing was halted for about three months, from June to September,” Raeisi said. “However, this year the 12-day war served as a wake-up call, prompting us to begin fishing operations earlier than usual.”

He added that permits for offshore fishing were issued about a month earlier than in past years, resulting in nearly a 35% increase in industrial fish catches in offshore waters so far.

Raeisi said industrial fish are primarily used for canned fish production and storage. During the 12-day war, canned fish was distributed nationwide and was the only food item whose supply faced no disruption due to sufficient reserves.

“This year, the program was designed both to build up fish reserves and to regulate the market,” he said, adding that around 1,000 lenj vessels are currently operating in offshore waters.

Addressing security concerns in offshore waters, Raeisi said parts of the Somali Sea are unsafe due to armed groups commonly referred to as pirates, but stressed that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy has provided protection whenever risks were identified.

“In effect, our fishermen and vessels also act as border guards,” he said. “When we say we have 168,000 fishermen, it means we have 168,000 unpaid border guards who produce, create jobs, and help safeguard the country’s maritime borders.”

On the detention of Iranian fishermen abroad, Raeisi said challenges occasionally arise in international waters, including encounters with Somali pirates. However, he emphasized that issues are typically resolved through coordination between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and military forces under international law.

“Pirates do not take fishermen hostage—they kill or eliminate them,” he said. “But there have been cases where vessels, due to engine failure, bad weather, or other issues, drifted from international waters into the territorial waters of another country.”

He added that when Iranian fishermen are detained in third countries over issues such as maritime border disputes, negotiations are pursued for their release. “Some countries are strict on border disputes. In this context, several Iranian fishermen were released from detention in India less than a month ago,” Raeisi said.

Raeisi also announced plans to expand offshore fishing beyond Somalia. “This year, for the first time, we plan to engage with Mauritius and Madagascar,” he said, noting that a delegation has already visited and inspected fishing grounds in both countries.

“These two countries have very good fishing grounds,” he said. “We aim to organize Iran’s distant-water fishing vessels there, as we have done in Somalia, so they can focus on industrial fishing.” “Mauritius and Madagascar”

Raeisi stressed that fishing activities in southern Iran were not halted even for a single day during the 12-day war, although vessel presence declined due to storms and seasonal conditions.

“Small vessels volunteered to go to sea in support of Iran, forming a popular mobilization against the enemy,” he said. “In addition to the maritime Basij under the IRGC Navy, we have a popular mobilization of fishermen who continued production throughout the war.”