Mogadishu, Somalia – The Somali coastline continues to pose a serious piracy threat, with two fishing vessels and one dhow hijacked between February 7 and March 16, 2025, according to a new report by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) on Tuesday.

The report states that 26 crew members were taken hostage during the incidents, underscoring the continued operational capacity of Somali pirate groups.

The IMB also reported a significant rise in piracy and armed robbery cases, recording 45 incidents between January and March 2025 — a 35% increase compared to the same period in 2024.

“IMB urges vessels transiting these waters to exercise heightened caution and adhere strictly to updated Best Management Practices for maritime safety,” the report emphasized.

Although all crew members and vessels were eventually released, the IMB noted that the increase in attacks signals the need for urgent counter-piracy measures to prevent further incidents.

The Bureau called on all vessels and maritime stakeholders to promptly report piracy-related incidents to ensure swift and effective responses to maritime security threats.