Security Media Center at the Ministry of Interior reported that Saudi Authorities released four Yemeni fishermen with their fishing boat following detention of approximately 24 days. Further, it stated that Eritrean authorities also released 38 Yemeni fishermen who had previously been detained for ten days.

Meanwhile, official sources said that enormous numbers of Yemeni fishermen were exposed to detentions by Saudi and Eritrean authorities while they were fishing in the international waters. “They were released following the detention, but most of their fishing boats were confiscated,” the sources added.

Following the recent crackdown by Eritrean authorities, the Yemeni government officially protested to what it called arrest without any justification.

Chairman of the Fishermen Cooperative Union (FCU) based in Al-Mukalla of Hadramout province said that Yemeni fishermen were struggling attack from international coalition forces off Yemen’s coast, Somali pirates and Saudi or Eritrea’s detention.

Large numbers of Yemeni fishers made trips through the southern Red Sea, frequently fishing in Eritrea and Somali waters, a regional expert said, adding that Eritreans consume very little fish and, therefore, most fish is exported and currently sold in Yemen.

Yemeni fishermen and fish exporters face a lot of problems including kidnapping, piracy and fish exports not being allowed into Saudi markets.