Mazhar's boat never left the shallows last month. Not because the fish had vanished, but because the sea itself had become a battlefield where fishermen are no longer the hunters, they're the prey. In al-Makha, a city that once fed Yemen and beyond with its Red Sea catch, the water is now a no-go zone. The fishermen who remain are trapped between warring factions, artificial reefs, and the barrel of a gun. And as the Red Sea's fishing industry collapses, so too does a vital artery of food supply for millions across South Asia.
The Red Sea's Fishermen Are Caught in a Crossfire That's Starving South Asia
It's not just Yemen's war that's killing the Red Sea's fishing trade, it's the global response to that war. The Houthis' attacks on shipping, the retaliatory strikes by the US, UK, and Saudi Arabia, and the tightening noose of military restrictions have turned one of the world's most productive fishing grounds into a death trap. Before 2015, Yemen's Red Sea coast supplied fish to markets as far as India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Now, the boats that once plied these waters are either sunk, abandoned, or confined to a sliver of coastline where the catch is too meagre to feed a single family. The 70% drop in fish exports recorded in 2018 is now likely closer to 90%, according to local traders interviewed by Al Jazeera. The ripple effects are already being felt in Karachi's fish markets, where prices for Red Sea pomfret and kingfish have doubled. But the real crisis isn't economic, it's nutritional. For millions in South Asia, fish is the primary source of protein. When the Red Sea's bounty disappears, the poorest pay the price.
The Bab al-Mandeb Strait, where Yemen's Red Sea coast meets the Gulf of Aden, is one of the world's most critical chokepoints. It handles roughly 12% of global seaborne oil trade and is the maritime gateway to the Suez Canal. But beneath the surface, it's also a nursery for some of the Indian Ocean's most lucrative fisheries. The same waters that feed Yemen's people once fed South Asia's. Now, that lifeline is severed. The Houthis' blockade of shipping lanes, the Saudi-led coalition's restrictions on coastal movement, and the US-UK airstrikes on Houthi positions have turned the Red Sea into a militarized zone where fishermen are treated as collateral damage. The question isn't whether the fishing industry will survive, it's how long before South Asia's food security cracks under the strain.
Why This War in Yemen Is a Food Crisis Waiting to Happen for South Asia
The Red Sea isn't just a warzone, it's a breadbasket under siege. Before the conflict escalated in 2015, Yemen's fishing industry was the country's second-largest export earner after oil, generating over $400 million annually. Most of those exports went to markets in India, Pakistan, and the Gulf states. The Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which sits at the southern tip of Yemen's Red Sea coast, is the narrowest point between Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. It's also where the Red Sea meets the Indian Ocean, making it a critical corridor for both trade and marine life. When the Houthis began targeting commercial shipping in late 2023 in solidarity with Gaza, they didn't just disrupt global trade, they choked off a vital source of protein for South Asia.
South Asia is home to some of the world's most protein-deficient populations. In Bangladesh, fish provides nearly 60% of the animal protein intake. In Pakistan, the figure is over 30%. In India, coastal communities from Kerala to West Bengal rely on the Arabian Sea's fisheries, which are interconnected with the Red Sea's ecosystem. The collapse of Yemen's Red Sea fishing industry isn't just a local tragedy, it's a regional food security threat. The World Food Programme estimates that over 24 million people in Yemen alone are food insecure. But the ripple effects extend far beyond Yemen's borders. As fish stocks dwindle and supply chains break, the poorest in South Asia will bear the brunt. The last time a similar disruption occurred was during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, when coastal fisheries in Sri Lanka and India were devastated for years. The difference this time? The war in Yemen is man-made, and the restrictions on fishing are deliberate.
It's not just the direct loss of fish exports that's hurting South Asia. The Red Sea's fishing industry is part of a larger maritime ecosystem that supports trawlers from India and Pakistan. When Yemen's fishermen can't operate, the entire food chain is disrupted. Local traders in Karachi told Al Jazeera that the price of Red Sea kingfish has jumped by 150% since the start of 2026. In Dhaka, fish markets are scrambling to replace the lost supply with cheaper, less nutritious alternatives. The long-term impact could be catastrophic. Fish is a low-cost, high-nutrient food source for millions. When that source disappears, the health consequences will follow. Malnutrition rates in coastal South Asian communities could rise, and the burden on already strained public health systems will grow.
From Al-Makha to the Arabian Sea: How Yemen's War Strangled a Shared Fishery
Al-Makha, a port city on Yemen's Red Sea coast, was once the heart of the country's fishing industry. Before 2015, its markets teemed with Red Sea tuna, kingfish, and sardines, all destined for dinner tables from Aden to Karachi. Today, the city's fishermen are trapped in a war they didn't start and can't escape. The Houthis, who control most of the Red Sea coast from the Saudi border down to Hodeidah, have imposed strict limits on where boats can sail. Pro-government forces, including the Guardians of the Republic, operate south of Hodeidah and have their own restrictions. The result? Fishermen like Mazhar are forced to fish in waters so shallow that the catch is barely enough to feed their families, let alone sell. "We pay money to buy scrap barrels and car bodies to dump into the sea to form artificial reefs," Mazhar told Al Jazeera. "But with every escalation in the Red Sea, we are denied access to our reefs for military reasons and are forced to fish near the shore."
The Bab al-Mandeb Strait, just south of al-Makha, is the choke point where the Red Sea meets the Gulf of Aden. It's also where the Houthis have focused their attacks on shipping, drawing retaliatory strikes from the US, UK, Israel, and Saudi Arabia. The airstrikes have targeted Houthi positions along the coast, but they've also made the waters too dangerous for fishing boats. The Houthis' attacks on shipping began in earnest after October 2023, in response to Israel's war on Gaza. But the impact on local fishermen was immediate. Before 2023, restrictions on fishing were sporadic, imposed mostly by the National Resistance Force and later the Guardians of the Republic. Now, both the Houthis and pro-government forces enforce blanket bans on deep-sea fishing, leaving fishermen with no choice but to risk their lives in the shallows or abandon the trade entirely.
The strategic importance of the Red Sea coast isn't just about fish. The Hodeidah port, about 160 kilometers north of al-Makha, is a lifeline for aid deliveries to Yemen. It's also a key transit point for goods moving between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which sits at the southern entrance to the Red Sea, is one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints. It handles 12% of global seaborne oil trade and is the gateway to the Suez Canal. The war in Yemen has turned this vital corridor into a battleground, and the fishermen who once relied on it are paying the price. The last time a similar disruption occurred was during the 1991 Gulf War, when Iraqi forces mined the northern Red Sea and disrupted shipping for months. But this time, the restrictions are more pervasive, and the impact on local livelihoods is far greater.
What Happened: The Slow Strangulation of Yemen's Red Sea Fisheries
According to reporting by Al Jazeera, the Red Sea's fishing industry in Yemen has been in freefall since 2015, when the war between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition began. But the collapse accelerated in late 2023, when the Houthis started targeting commercial shipping in the Red Sea in solidarity with Gaza. The attacks drew immediate retaliation from the US, UK, Israel, and Saudi Arabia, which launched airstrikes on Houthi positions in Yemen, including along the Red Sea coast. The result has been a de facto blockade on fishing, with both the Houthis and pro-government forces imposing restrictions on where boats can sail.
The restrictions aren't just about safety, they're about control. The Houthis, who control most of the Red Sea coast, have declared large areas off-limits to fishing, ostensibly for "military reasons." Pro-government forces, operating south of Hodeidah, have done the same. Fishermen like Mazhar are caught in the middle. They're not allowed to venture into deep waters where the fish are plentiful, and they're not allowed to fish near the artificial reefs they've built to attract schools of fish. The result is a fishing industry that's been reduced to a shadow of its former self. Before the war, Yemen's Red Sea fisheries generated over $400 million annually. Today, that figure is likely less than $50 million. The 70% drop in fish exports recorded in 2018 is now closer to 90%, according to local traders. And the humanitarian impact is spreading beyond Yemen's borders. In South Asia, where fish is a staple protein source, the loss of Red Sea fisheries is creating a food security crisis.
The Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the narrow waterway at the southern tip of the Red Sea, is the epicenter of this crisis. It's where the Red Sea meets the Gulf of Aden, and it's one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints. The Houthis' attacks on shipping have disrupted global trade, but they've also made the waters too dangerous for fishing boats. The US, UK, Israel, and Saudi Arabia have responded with airstrikes on Houthi positions, but those strikes have only intensified the restrictions on fishing. The result is a vicious cycle: the more the war escalates, the more the fishing industry collapses, and the more South Asia's food security is threatened.
Global and Regional Reaction: A World That Notices the Shipping Disruptions but Ignores the Fishermen
The international response to the Red Sea crisis has focused almost entirely on the Houthis' attacks on commercial shipping and the subsequent airstrikes by the US, UK, Israel, and Saudi Arabia. The US and UK have led the charge, conducting multiple rounds of airstrikes on Houthi positions in Yemen, including in the Red Sea port cities of Hodeidah and al-Makha. The stated goal is to protect global shipping lanes and deter further Houthi aggression. But the impact on local fishermen has been ignored. The Houthis, for their part, have framed their attacks on shipping as a response to Israel's war on Gaza. They've vowed to continue targeting vessels linked to Israel and its allies, regardless of the cost to Yemen's civilian population.
The United Nations and humanitarian organizations have raised the alarm about the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, but their focus has been on food aid and medical supplies, not on the collapse of the fishing industry. The World Food Programme estimates that over 24 million people in Yemen are food insecure, but it hasn't yet quantified the impact of the fishing industry's collapse on regional food security. The Saudi-led coalition, which has been fighting the Houthis since 2015, has imposed its own restrictions on coastal movement, ostensibly to prevent weapons smuggling. But those restrictions have also made it harder for fishermen to operate. The result is a war where the fishermen are the forgotten casualties.
In South Asia, the reaction has been muted. India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh have all expressed concern about the Red Sea crisis, but their focus has been on the disruption to global trade, not on the collapse of the fishing industry. The Indian Navy has increased patrols in the Arabian Sea to protect its own shipping, but there's been no coordinated response to the food security threat posed by the collapse of Yemen's Red Sea fisheries. The last time a similar crisis occurred was during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, when coastal fisheries in Sri Lanka and India were devastated for years. This time, the disruption is man-made, and the impact could be far greater. The question is whether South Asia's governments will act before the crisis spirals out of control.
South Asia Impact: When Yemen's Fishermen Go Hungry, Karachi and Dhaka Feel the Pain
The impact of Yemen's Red Sea fishing collapse on South Asia is already being felt in the markets of Karachi, Dhaka, and Mumbai. The price of Red Sea pomfret and kingfish has doubled in Karachi's fish markets, and traders say the supply is unlikely to recover anytime soon. In Dhaka, where fish provides nearly 60% of the animal protein intake, the loss of Red Sea imports is forcing consumers to switch to cheaper, less nutritious alternatives. The World Food Programme estimates that over 24 million people in Yemen are food insecure, but the ripple effects extend far beyond Yemen's borders. In South Asia, where fish is a staple protein source, the loss of this supply chain could push malnutrition rates higher and strain already fragile public health systems.
The Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the narrow waterway at the southern tip of the Red Sea, is the epicenter of this crisis. It's where the Red Sea meets the Gulf of Aden, and it's one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints. The Houthis' attacks on shipping have disrupted global trade, but they've also made the waters too dangerous for fishing boats. The US, UK, Israel, and Saudi Arabia have responded with airstrikes on Houthi positions, but those strikes have only intensified the restrictions on fishing. The result is a vicious cycle: the more the war escalates, the more the fishing industry collapses, and the more South Asia's food security is threatened.
The last time a similar disruption occurred was during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, when coastal fisheries in Sri Lanka and India were devastated for years. The difference this time? The war in Yemen is man-made, and the restrictions on fishing are deliberate. The GFN editorial desk assesses that the collapse of Yemen's Red Sea fisheries could have a more severe and longer-lasting impact on South Asian food security than the 2004 tsunami. The reason is simple: the 2004 disaster was a natural event, and recovery was possible once the waters stabilized. This time, the restrictions are imposed by warring factions, and there's no clear path to lifting them. For South Asia's coastal communities, the question isn't whether the fish will return, it's how long they can go without it.
What Happens Next: A Fishing Industry on the Brink of Extinction
Analysts expect the Red Sea's fishing industry to continue its downward spiral unless there's a dramatic shift in the war. The most likely outcome is that the restrictions on fishing will remain in place, and the industry will shrink further. The Houthis have shown no signs of easing their grip on the Red Sea coast, and the pro-government forces have no incentive to lift their restrictions. The result is a fishing industry that's been reduced to a shadow of its former self. The question is how long before the industry collapses entirely, and what happens when it does.
A key question is whether South Asia's governments will step in to fill the gap. India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh could increase their own fishing efforts in the Arabian Sea to compensate for the loss of Red Sea imports. But that would require significant investment in infrastructure and technology, neither of which is likely in the current economic climate. The alternative is a prolonged food security crisis, with the poorest bearing the brunt. The last time a similar disruption occurred was during the 1991 Gulf War, when Iraqi forces mined the northern Red Sea and disrupted shipping for months. The recovery took years. This time, the disruption is more pervasive, and the impact on local livelihoods is far greater.
The US, UK, and Saudi Arabia have shown no interest in lifting the restrictions on fishing as part of their broader strategy to weaken the Houthis. The Houthis, for their part, have framed their attacks on shipping as a response to Israel's war on Gaza, and they're unlikely to ease their grip on the Red Sea coast as long as that war continues. The result is a stalemate where the fishermen are the only ones paying the price. The most likely outcome is that the fishing industry will continue to shrink, and the humanitarian crisis will deepen. The question is whether South Asia's governments will act before it's too late.
There's also the question of whether the international community will finally recognize the Red Sea fishing crisis as a humanitarian emergency. The World Food Programme has raised the alarm about food insecurity in Yemen, but it hasn't yet quantified the impact of the fishing industry's collapse on regional food security. The UN's Food and Agriculture Organization has called for a lifting of restrictions on fishing, but its pleas have fallen on deaf ears. The result is a crisis that's being ignored by the same actors who claim to be protecting global shipping lanes. For the fishermen of al-Makha, the future is bleak. For South Asia, the stakes couldn't be higher.
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Key Takeaways
- Yemen's Red Sea fishing industry, once a $400 million export earner, has collapsed by up to 90% due to war and military restrictions, threatening food security across South Asia where fish is a primary protein source.
- The Bab al-Mandeb Strait's militarization by Houthi attacks and retaliatory airstrikes has turned a vital fishing ground into a no-go zone, with fishermen trapped between warring factions and artificial reefs they can no longer access.
- The last regional precedent, 2004's Indian Ocean tsunami, showed fisheries can take years to recover from collapse, but this time the disruption is deliberate and lacks a clear exit strategy, risking a prolonged South Asian food crisis.
