(ERGO) – Shueyb Ahmed Hussein, 34, saves the dollar bus fare by walking two hours every day from Sa’id displacement camp in Daynilie district of Mogadishu to the coast to fish. He makes $100 to $150 a month and supports his parents, siblings, and his own three children.
“I now eat at least twice a day, and sometimes three times. Before, I was struggling to survive, sometimes finding work and sometimes not. Things have changed for me now. I support two families through this work,” he said.
Shueyb started fishing in February after his father, the family’s main provider, became ill with epilepsy and could no longer work. He bought a simple fishing line with a curved metal hook for $28 from a relative.
He remains on the shore for hours, pulling out fish when they take the bait and casting the line back into the water again. He used to push a handcart making about $2 a day. Fishing provides far better income, although the hours are long. He sells his fish in Mogadishu markets and cooks whatever remains unsold at home:
“Sometimes the sea is generous and we catch a lot. At other times, especially when the wind is strong, there is very little. Outside the windy season, I get good fish and that is what I use to support our daily needs.”
Shueyb is responsible for his three children, six younger siblings, and his parents. His children are not yet in school, but he pays $8 a month for his sister’s primary education.
The family moved to Sa’id camp in June 2024 after fleeing rural areas of Hiran following conflict and drought that wiped out their herd of 100 cattle, goats and camels. He hopes to obtain better equipment to increase his catch and make this new livelihood a stable one for his family.
Many young people fish along the Gubadley, Geeleq, Karan and Jasiira coastal areas of Mogadishu, relatively close to the city and with rocky sections where fish gather. They are also less crowded than popular beaches such as Lido.
Hussein Mohamed Yusuf, 19, who lives in Gubadley, is another young fisherman earning about $10 a day. He pays $30 a month for his own evening classes and uses the rest to help his family. He took up fishing as his father struggled to meet the needs of the household of 11 on his $170 monthly wage as a hotel guard.
“I’m studying English at night. I use part of what I earn during the day to pay for private lessons and give the rest to my family,” he said. “We are a poor family, so I started working at sea to help support them.”
He began fishing last April after learning from friends who were already doing the work. He uses a small net and sometimes ventures into the water, although he cannot swim.
“There is a lot of danger. Sometimes the waves are strong when I try to catch fish,” he said. “I’m afraid to go into the sea even when I can see plenty of fish. If I could swim, I would be among the bigger fishermen who bring in much larger catches.”
Hussein has saved about $70 to cushion his family from emergencies. Fishing is his first job and has given him a sense of independence after depending on his parents. He now contributes to the household and helps his younger siblings.
Mohamed Abdiweli Muse, a member of a fish traders’ cooperative that buys the young fishermen’s catch, said more than 100 young people are involved in this type of fishing around Mogadishu. Many are determined to improve their lives but lack the equipment to increase their production.
“We give priority to these young people because they have taken the initiative to fish even though they don’t have proper maritime skills. As cooperatives, we also make sure they have a market for what they catch. We buy all the fish they bring. We pay between $1 and $1.50 per kilogramme, depending on the type and quality of the fish,” he explained.
