News - Yemen: The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources has strongly condemned the environmental disaster occurring along the coasts of Socotra Island, following the mass beaching of over 80 dolphins in the Shuab area, many of which were found dead.

In an official statement, the ministry explained that this incident is the second of its kind in a short period and poses serious environmental threats to the island's marine ecosystem.

The ministry stressed that the recurrence of such phenomena cannot be considered a natural or accidental event, but rather a dangerous indicator of suspicious human interference and the possible presence of marine pollutants. These are believed to stem from illegal activities conducted by foreign vessels within Yemeni waters—activities masked as development projects but driven by colonial ambitions. The occupying UAE, which controls the island, is directly behind these destructive actions.

The ministry suggested that chemical or acoustic marine pollution caused by ships and heavy marine equipment may be a primary factor in the incident due to its disruptive effect on dolphins’ navigational and sensory systems, resulting in disoriented group behavior.

It also noted that its environmental and technical teams are investigating other scientific hypotheses, including the possible outbreak of viral or bacterial diseases affecting dolphins’ nervous systems, as well as environmental and climatic factors such as changes in sea currents or water temperature, which could disrupt the ecosystem surrounding Socotra.

The statement emphasized that what is happening along Socotra’s shores constitutes a systematic assault on Yemen’s marine wealth and a blatant violation of national sovereignty. It held the UAE and other foreign parties involved fully responsible for these environmental crimes and their escalating consequences.

The ministry called for an urgent national and international investigation and for those responsible to be held accountable. It also urged citizens—especially the people of Socotra—to remain steadfast and vigilant in defending their marine environment against all forms of destruction and exploitation.

At the same time, it appealed to the United Nations and international environmental organizations to urgently intervene to protect the Socotra Archipelago, which is classified as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, from deliberate and systematic destruction.

The Yemeni archipelago of Socotra is facing an environmental and sovereignty crisis fueled by ongoing Emirati interference. Since mid-2020, the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) has maintained military and administrative control over the island, allowing Emirati firms to dominate key sectors including fuel, electricity, and civil aviation.