Somali pirates hijack Iranian fishing vessel

Somali pirates hijacked an Iranian fishing vessel today to use as a base to attack bigger, more valuable ships, the mayor of a Somali town said.

Crews have let security procedures slip in recent years and travel far closer to pirate-infested shores than authorities recommend, shipping sources say. The pirate gangs launch small, fast skiffs from bases on shore to try and hijack vessels.

Ali Shire, the mayor of Haabo in the northern semi-autonomous region of Puntland, told Reuters.

"The Iranian fishing vessel does not have a licence [to fish] in Puntland,” he added.

Local fishermen have been angered by the return of unlicensed international fishing vessels to Somali waters, blaming them for reducing the local catch.