Mogadishu — General Farah Ahmed Omar alias General Farah Qare, the Commander of the Somali Coat Guard has expressed hopelessness against pirates.

Speaking to the media in his office in Mogadishu, Gen Farah Qare indicated that pirates will remain active as long as illegal fishing is practised by foreign vessels. The general said that illegal fishing and exploitation of Somalia's marine resources are the main factors that encouraged the youth to venture into the seas.

He added that it was impossible to stop the pirates so long they claim to be fighting against foreign vessels coming to the territorial waters of Somalia.

He urged all those concerned, including the international community to act against those illegally exploiting Somalia's marine resources.

Can be classified

"Under the prevailing circumstances, the pirates can be classified as youth that reacted to illegal practices taking place along the Somali coast," said Gen Farah Qare.

The general also commented on complaints from fishermen that the Somali coast guard has recently confiscated from them some items they recovered from the sea. He said that the articles did not belong to the fishermen but were left behind by trawlers that were engaged in illegal fishing.

The items in question, said to have been recovered 7 miles off the coast, were displayed by Gen Farah Qare and included long range fishing nets and sophisticated sonar appliances. "These items could not belong to local fishermen," said the general.