Pirates as Heroes

Sherri Siegele

A proud and hard working 25 year old Somali pirate, Dahir, was interviewed by the BBC over the phone. He says that pirates are viewed as heroes by his people. It’s understandable; Somalia’s livelihood was stolen from them so they’re stealing it back. Fishing is a way of life in Somalia but illegal fishing by foreigners and contaminated waters have taken it away. I hadn’t thought about how piracy has become a social and economic fabric of Somalia. He says that coastal towns view piracy as legal and thus support it and, that pirates are spending their money in Somalia so it’s helping the economy. For example, Dahir started this practice in 2007 and he now owns two luxury cars and has started his own business in his hometown. He feels that one more “job” will give him what he wants. Then he plans to get married and presumably continue with his hometown business and raise a family.

He suggests that if Somali's government brought back the fishing industry that piracy would end. It’s a sweet and naïve view; People of Somalia have gotten a taste of wealth that fishing could never bring and they will want more regardless. Aside from that, even if Somalia had an effective government there’s not much they could do about global water pollution and the effect it’s having on fishing.