How an NGO is turning Somalian pirates into fishermen

Have you watched Tom Hanks' blockbuster Captain Phillips?

The movie, released in 2013, portrayed the true story of Maersk Alabama, a container ship, and its captain Richard Phillips.

Somali pirates attacked Maersk Alabama while it was on its course to Kenya in 2009. But thanks to Richard Philips, Alabama crew survived as the captain was able to use his wits to negotiate with the pirates.

The Alabama hijacking, however, was not an isolated incident on the coast of Somalia.

In 2011, at the peak of this problem, around 237 incidents of piracy were recorded off Somalia and the Gulf of Aden. Somalian pirates reigned this region back then. They would hijack ships and hold the crew hostage for ransom.

That year alone, Somali piracy cost around $6.6 billion in the overall international naval activities. 

Around a decade down the road, however, the Somalian coast today is no longer plagued by pirates as much as it used to be. Behind this changing spectrum is a non-governmental organisation called FairFishing, which is working with a mission to turn Somali pirates into fishermen.

FairFishing is working to improve Somali lives by building local businesses and creating employment opportunities through sustainable fishing.

The idea came into being when piracy peaked around 10 years ago. Some businessmen in Denmark wondered why these men were pirates and why they are not fishing even though there lies a huge potential of sustainable fishing in the region.

This is how FairFishing was born to reintroduce sustainable fishing in Somalia.

So, why reintroduce fishing?

According to the United Nations estimates, exports of fishery products earned this Horn of African nation some $15 million back in 1989. But following years of civil war, the 2004 tsunami, and persistent droughts led Somalia to abyss. People forgot the know-hows of fishing.

However, ever since FairFishing began working on its mission to improve lives in Somalia, the scenario gradually changed. Piracy declined as people are regaining their faith in fishing and living standards are improving.

FairFishing now hopes that by 2021, turnover of Somali fishers, chefs, and kitchen owners will grow up to $10 million.

The Business Standard recently contacted Claus Bindslev, the chairman and co-founder of FairFishing. In an exclusive interview, he opened up about the emergence of FairFishing and how it is making a difference in Somalia.

TBS: What is the FairFishing model? How does this model help the Somalis and the international community?

CB: FairFishing builds local fishery stations with ice, storage, and processing of fish both at sea and in the countryside of Somalia. Our model is to build (hardware) fishing stations and give training (software) from sea to sale.

We aim to support the people of a country with such a rich sea. They can have fresh fish on the dish by a value chain where the fish are cool, clean, and tasty from boat to plate.

The FairFishing method and model is to secure funding, facilities, expertise, and training as an NGO but manage every activity as a business from day one so that every local fisherman, employee at stations or people in markets can have their own business up and running from the very beginning.

FairFishing has created more than 3,500 jobs in the whole cooling chain, and we have strong partnerships with international funds from both public institutions, private companies, and funds.

FairFishing is a small NGO that aims to create a strong and long-term sustainable fishery sector in fragile and vulnerable regions and states.

FairFishing started as an anti-piracy idea. But soon we realised fish can act as more than just a tool to prevent piracy. Fish is the most important food in a region that faces extreme forms of climate change and heavy drought, which result in a lack of food and income.

By ---- Claus Bindslev, the chairman and co-founder of FairFishing

TBS: How did you come up with such an idea? How could FairFishing manage necessary support to build such a platform in the Horn of Africa?

CB: The idea was born between people from Somaliland living in Denmark, Danish top executives from the shipping sector, and former NGO leaders who have worked in fishery around the world.

We were a small group of entrepreneurs who wanted to give all we had in terms if network, expertise, access to funding, and local networks to build the simplest idea in one of the most fragile regions to solve one of the world's biggest and most expensive problems.

From the first day in Somaliland, we were very keen about having dialogues and close collaborations with the local government and the local community of small-scale fishermen.

FairFishing has from the very beginning engaged and employed young and old local people who could see our vision. They did not have interest in fishery but had a very big motivation to build a strong fishery sector for their country.

TBS: The Somalian coasts saw a decline in piracy in recent years. How does FairFishing work in reducing piracy?

CB: FairFishing, after the first four years of running our own station in Berbera of Somaliland, got the chance to build six more stations around African Horn. Some of them were built in regions and municipalities where young boys could choose to be pirates.

Now they have the opportunity and ability to work on a fishing boat, with fish in the market, or to transport fish.

The key factor that led to the decline in piracy is that all ships have legal rights to have armed guards onboard when they pass Africa Horn.

FairFishing started as an anti-piracy idea. But soon we realised fish can act as more than just a tool to prevent piracy. Fish is the most important food in a region that faces extreme forms of climate change and heavy drought, which result in a lack of food and income.

TBS: FairFishing model has been in Somalia for almost a decade now. Where do you see this platform in the next five years?  

CB: Our greatest vision is to put fresh fish on the dish that is cool, clean, and tasty. Fish can thus create $10 million in turnover for local businesses for 10 million people.

The bycatch is a new healthy food for children and a new business for women in the region. Therefore, there will be fewer poor people and higher motivation to build the region from a fragile to a fruitful one.

TBS: Do you see any potential of applying the FairFishing model to any other part of the world to address issues other than piracy? Do you see any other place where such a model could change lives?

CB: We are right now at a stage where we would love to share and give our experiences to other regions, countries, or municipalities that can start the same great journey with fish, one of the world's most fantastic food resources.

We are very curious to see and engage in new projects where our expertise, network, and practical know-how can be used to improve health and local businesses, and ensure that fish that belongs to the country will be caught in a sustainable way all year around.

It will be a big honour for us if we can support children and families through fresh fish markets and distributions.

TBS: From Denmark to Somalia for the cause of humanity. Tell us about your personal journey.

CB: It has been almost ten years here. It started with a lot of respect and eye-opening experiences for the people living in African Horn. Travelling from 8,000 kilometres from a country where it snows and the mercury drops to -5 degrees Celsius to one that has a desert-like landscape and the temperature is 40 degrees, I experienced that we, apart from the difference in skin colour and resources, shared the same vision. We both wanted to make a better world. That is why you and I and all of us can make our dreams come true across the world.

It is all about three simple values. One, sharing a vision. Two, be extremely specific about the very practical steps to be taken in the next 100 days. The third point, which is also the most important one, is to build strong relations with people who can think about others. When you look into people's eyes, make a pledge for a common vision, spend evenings when you are laughing more than arguing, and leave by shaking hands and deliver on your promises – that is when the first step becomes real.