BERBERA, Somaliland — At dawn, the fishermen of Berbera push their wooden boats into churning waters, the wind whipping their faces and the horizon already dark with storm clouds. For decades, these men and women have relied on the Red Sea to feed their families, but now the sea itself seems to turn against them.
Abdishakur Mohamud Hassan, known locally as Cidin, the mayor of Berbera, walks along the shoreline, watching nets wash up empty. “Climate change is not a future threat,” he says, his voice heavy with urgency. “It is here, it is real, and it is devouring the livelihoods of our people.”
The challenges facing Berbera’s fishing community are stark. Hamza Mohamud Ahmed, manager of the Berbera Fishers Center, describes a daily struggle: “Our fishermen face stronger storms, unpredictable tides, and relentless winds”.
He added: “Most of our boats are old, without modern equipment. Illegal fishing by foreign vessels strips our waters of fish, leaving families hungry and desperate. Every trip is a gamble with life itself.”
Samiya Mohamed Abdi, Berbera’s local government manager for coastal and fisheries development —and the city’s first female fisheries expert—has become a lifeline for these communities.
With support from the several aid agencies including UNDP office in Hargeisa, Samiya is rolling out programs to help fishers adapt: teaching sustainable fishing practices, constructing coastal protections, and raising awareness about climate change.
“We are not just protecting fish,” she says. “We are protecting families, futures, and a way of life that has sustained Somaliland for generations.”
Yet this struggle is inseparable from politics. Somaliland, which declared independence in 1991, remains largely unrecognized internationally. Mayor Cidin sees the fight against climate change as intertwined with the quest for recognition.
“We are ready to contribute solutions to global problems,” he says. “Recognition would allow us to participate fully in international efforts. Our voices, our knowledge, and our people deserve to be heard.”
As the COP30 summit in Brazil approaches, the story of Berbera is a reminder that climate change is more than numbers and policies—it is human lives hanging in the balance. “Every lost fish, every storm, every unsafe trip at sea is a reminder,” Samiya says. “Our coastline is disappearing. Our people are struggling. And the world cannot afford to look away.”
